According to the 91-year-old office, SSA records are referenced by federal government agencies and in states to validate identities<\/a> \u2014 which helps prevent improper payments<\/a> of taxpayer dollars. While it may seem like a small, administrative change, the move safeguards identity data, helps to prevent fraud<\/a>, and preserves proper program administration.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Social Security Number database is our country\u2019s books and records. The database\u2019s accuracy is essential to maintaining integrity of government services for citizens. Accurate SSN records prevent fraud<\/a> across federal programs and support the proper administration of benefits,\u201d said Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano in a press release.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what the SSA has fixed according to the agency:<\/p>\n Added 17 million dates of death to records that previously lacked this information<\/p>\n Updated approximately 25 million records that previously had missing citizenship information<\/p>\n Currently in the process of correcting an additional 8.5 million records with inaccurate citizenship status<\/p>\n Implemented stronger internal controls to prevent inaccuracies due to manual data entry from occurring in the future<\/p>\n Now here\u2019s what you don\u2019t need to worry about \u2014 no Social Security numbers have been taken, your monthly checks are still coming, and recipients will still see a COLA bump<\/a>.<\/p>\n In other words \u2014 it\u2019s business as usual.<\/p>\n Moreover, if you have a relative or friend who has recently died, their Social Security number will not be taken. The SSA is clear that it does not reassign numbers after a card holder\u2019s death.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cEven though we have issued over 453 million SSNs so far, and we assign about five and one-half million new numbers a year, the current numbering system will provide us with enough new numbers for several generations into the future with no changes in the numbering system,\u201d the website reads<\/a>.<\/p>\n Social Security has also announced another change \u2014 but this time it\u2019s directly helping Americans. The agency recently revealed that beneficiaries will see 3.6% cost-of-living increase<\/a> next year \u2014 averaging another $75 a month. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n This means 73 million Americans who collect benefits will see the bump as well as the 7.5 million people who receive Supplemental Security Income.<\/p>\n However, some experts say it\u2019s not enough to keep up with rising prices \u2014 and the fund running out <\/a>of cash after 2032. <\/p>\n The Social Security Administration said in a statement<\/a> that after 2032, the fund will only be able to dole out 78% of total scheduled benefits. This puts recipients at risk of losing an average of about $500 a month.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/man-typing-social-security-number-145843074.jpg\")
The Social Security Administration has just announced the biggest clean-up to its database in over 90 years Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/145843127.jpg\")
No Social Security numbers have been taken, your monthly checks are still coming, recipients will still see a COLA bump<\/p>\n