Latest news with #SocialSecurityDeathIndex
Newsweek
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Thousands of Dead People Got Student Aid, Trump Admin Finds
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The U.S. Department of Education revealed that over $30 million in federal student aid had been distributed to thousands of deceased individuals during the past three years. The disclosure followed an internal cross-check of student aid records against federal grant logs and the Social Security Death Index. Why It Matters The discovery of erroneous payments totaling over $30 million to deceased individuals raises significant concerns about the integrity of federal financial aid programs, which are funded by U.S. taxpayers. President Donald Trump's administration has been emphasizing the amount of money the government is wasting and has been trying to eliminate unnecessary expenses. What To Know The Department of Education's review found that, over the previous three years, more than $30 million in federal student aid was paid out to thousands of recipients who were already deceased. These payments included both loan disbursements and grant funds. Officials identified the problem by cross-referencing student aid records with the Social Security Death Index. They stated that the lack of real-time data sharing contributed to erroneous payments, as outdated records failed to flag recipients who had died, allowing automatic disbursements to proceed. To address the issue, the Education Department reported it is strengthening its real-time data-sharing agreement with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and enhancing administrative processes to detect eligibility changes more quickly. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House on May 28, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House on May 28, steps aim to close loopholes that permitted deceased individuals to remain listed as eligible for aid. The department also announced the resumption of automated post-screening for student aid records, a process that was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic. Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated that these checks are crucial for ensuring that all recipients meet the eligibility criteria before additional aid is released. The $30 million misallocated to deceased recipients was part of a larger total: nearly $90 million was distributed to ineligible recipients during the same period, according to the Department of Education. Despite the large number, experts say the level of fraud is still relatively low. "As we know, in any system, public or private, mistakes and fraud can occur," Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. "This $90 million figure represents less than 0.10 percent of the total average government outlay of $87 billion for student loans." He added: "The attention this is getting is purely a result of the scale, and it actually highlights how well the system has performed." What People Are Saying Education Secretary Linda McMahon, in a press release: "As we continue to rehabilitate the student loan portfolio, we must also ensure there are accountability measures at every step of the student aid are committed to protecting and responsibly investing their hard-earned dollars." Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "Unfortunately, like most other government programs, the student loan system can be subject to fraud and technical error that results in individuals who shouldn't receive funding becoming loan recipients. And while $90 million in loans provided to deceased individuals may sound shocking to many Americans, and certainly needs to be fixed, it's important to note from a financial standpoint, it's a drop in the bucket to the over $1.5 trillion in outstanding student loan debt issued." What Happens Next The Department of Education has committed to further technological upgrades and ongoing collaboration with the SSA to prevent improper payments to deceased or otherwise ineligible individuals. Updates to oversight and data-sharing mechanisms are expected to be implemented over the next fiscal year. Because the Trump administration has prioritized cutting out waste and fraud, there will likely be increased focus on this type of federal government mismanagement of funds moving forward, Thompson said. "This will have very little impact on the Education Department, as the error rate was relatively insignificant," Thompson said. "In the long run, however, this will likely be politicized as an example of fraud and waste in the system, rather than recognized as a success due to the high approval and completion rates."
American Military News
01-06-2025
- Health
- American Military News
Even a little daily activity may lower heart, death risks for heart attack survivors
People who spend their days sedentary after a heart-related emergency – such as a heart attack or chest pain – may face a greater risk of another cardiac event or even death within a year than those who move even a little, according to new research. The study found replacing just 30 minutes of sedentary time with 30 minutes of light-intensity physical activity could lower the risk of having another cardiovascular event or dying by 50%. The risk could be reduced by up to 61% with the same amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity. The findings were published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. 'Current treatment guidelines after a cardiac event focus mainly on encouraging patients to exercise regularly,' lead author Dr. Keith Diaz, an associate professor of behavioral medicine at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, said in a news release. 'In our study, we explored whether sedentary time itself may contribute to cardiovascular risk.' Prior research by the same team found people who had experienced a heart attack were spending up to 13 hours each day being sedentary, defined as getting little to no physical movement during periods when they were awake. In the new study, researchers analyzed health, sleep and physical activity data for 609 adults, ages 21 to 96, who were treated for a heart attack or chest pain in the emergency department at Columbia University Medical Center. Physical activity was tracked using wrist accelerometers for a median of 30 days following discharge from the hospital. The devices measured movement in three directions – forward and backward, side to side and up and down – to better assess the intensity of movement beyond what a person could recall. Examples of moderate-intensity physical activities included brisk walking, water aerobics, dancing, doubles tennis and gardening. Vigorous-intensity activity included running, swimming laps, heavy yard work, singles tennis and jumping rope. People in the most physically active group averaged 143.8 minutes of light daily physical activity, 25 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity, 11.7 hours of sedentary behavior and 8.4 hours of sleep. People in the least physically active group averaged 82.2 minutes of light physical activity per day, 2.7 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity, 15.6 hours of sedentary behavior and 6.6 hours of sleep. Phone surveys, electronic health records and the Social Security Death Index were used to determine whether cardiac events or deaths from any cause had occurred up to one year after hospital discharge. The least active participants were more than 2.5 times as likely as the most active to have another heart attack, have surgery to treat heart issues, be hospitalized again or die within a year of their first cardiac event. Getting more sleep also lowered the participants' risk for another cardiovascular event or death. Swapping 30 minutes of sedentary behavior for 30 minutes of sleep reduced the risk by 14%. 'We were surprised that replacing sedentary time with sleep also lowered risk,' said Diaz, a certified exercise physiologist. 'Sleep is a restorative behavior that helps the body and mind recover, which is especially important after a serious health event like a heart attack.' During the follow-up period, 50 participants – about 8% – experienced another cardiac event or died. The findings indicate 'that one doesn't have to start running marathons after a cardiovascular event to see benefits,' Diaz said. 'Sitting less and moving or sleeping a little more can make a real difference.' Even small tasks, such as tidying up the house or a slow stroll were 'nearly as beneficial as moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activities, like biking or doing aerobics,' Dr. Bethany Barone Gibbs said in the news release. She is chair of the department of epidemiology and biostatistics at the School of Public Health at West Virginia University in Morgantown. The study provides more support for a 'sit less, move more' strategy for people who experienced a heart event – and especially those who may have barriers to more intense exercise, said Barone Gibbs, who was not involved in the research. 'These findings suggest sitting less and doing anything else – like taking a walk, cooking, playing with your dog or gardening – will help you stay healthier,' she said. ___ © 2025 American Heart Association, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
Epoch Times
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Education Department Finds $90 Million in Improper Student Aid Payments
The U.S. Department of Education has The agency released the findings on May 28 as part of a broader effort to restore oversight tools and reduce fraud in federal student aid programs. Officials said the improper payments occurred over the past three years and were tied in part to lapses in verification systems that had been paused. 'From start to finish—filling out the FAFSA [Free Application for Federal Student Aid] form to loan repayment—the American taxpayer underwrites federal student aid programs,' Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. 'We are committed to protecting and responsibly investing their hard-earned dollars.' According to the department, more than $30 million went to recipients who were listed as deceased. A cross-check with the Social Security Death Index flagged the error. Officials said they have strengthened real-time data-sharing with the Social Security Administration to help prevent similar mistakes in the future. Other cases involved identity fraud and immigration-related ineligibility. In March, the department resumed flagging suspicious FAFSA applications using data models designed to catch inconsistencies or signs of identity misuse. A recent review found that nearly $40 million in Direct Loans and $6 million in Pell Grants were issued to people who did not qualify. Officials said individuals granted immigration parole status—temporary permission to remain in the country—are not immediately eligible for aid. To better identify these cases, the department said it has received updated data from the Department of Homeland Security. Related Stories 5/22/2025 5/8/2025 An additional $10 million in improper Direct Loan payments was linked to a pause in a system known as the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) post-screening. The NSLDS process alerts financial aid offices when a student has reached federal limits or had a change in eligibility. That tool was restored earlier this year, the department said. The department added that many of the protections and processes being resumed were in place before the COVID-19 pandemic but had been delayed or deprioritized in recent years. The statement also noted that the Office of Federal Student Aid is working with law enforcement to investigate and prosecute fraud cases. The agency encouraged students and parents to visit While the department did not provide a full breakdown of how the errors occurred or how many recipients were involved, it said the new oversight measures would help close existing gaps. The announcement comes as the federal student aid system faces renewed With millions of borrowers now past due or in default, the Education Department has also resumed involuntary collections, including tax refund seizures and upcoming wage garnishments for those who remain in default. Tom Ozimek contributed to this report.
San Francisco Chronicle
19-05-2025
- Health
- San Francisco Chronicle
Even a little daily activity may lower heart, death risks for heart attack survivors
People who spend their days sedentary after a heart-related emergency – such as a heart attack or chest pain – may face a greater risk of another cardiac event or even death within a year than those who move even a little, according to new research. The study found replacing just 30 minutes of sedentary time with 30 minutes of light-intensity physical activity could lower the risk of having another cardiovascular event or dying by 50%. The risk could be reduced by up to 61% with the same amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity. The findings were published May 19 in the American Heart Association journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. "Current treatment guidelines after a cardiac event focus mainly on encouraging patients to exercise regularly," lead author Dr. Keith Diaz, an associate professor of behavioral medicine at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, said in a news release. "In our study, we explored whether sedentary time itself may contribute to cardiovascular risk." Prior research by the same team found people who had experienced a heart attack were spending up to 13 hours each day being sedentary, defined as getting little to no physical movement during periods when they were awake. In the new study, researchers analyzed health, sleep and physical activity data for 609 adults, ages 21 to 96, who were treated for a heart attack or chest pain in the emergency department at Columbia University Medical Center. Physical activity was tracked using wrist accelerometers for a median of 30 days following discharge from the hospital. The devices measured movement in three directions – forward and backward, side to side and up and down – to better assess the intensity of movement beyond what a person could recall. Examples of moderate-intensity physical activities included brisk walking, water aerobics, dancing, doubles tennis and gardening. Vigorous-intensity activity included running, swimming laps, heavy yard work, singles tennis and jumping rope. People in the most physically active group averaged 143.8 minutes of light daily physical activity, 25 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity, 11.7 hours of sedentary behavior and 8.4 hours of sleep. People in the least physically active group averaged 82.2 minutes of light physical activity per day, 2.7 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity, 15.6 hours of sedentary behavior and 6.6 hours of sleep. Phone surveys, electronic health records and the Social Security Death Index were used to determine whether cardiac events or deaths from any cause had occurred up to one year after hospital discharge. The least active participants were more than 2.5 times as likely as the most active to have another heart attack, have surgery to treat heart issues, be hospitalized again or die within a year of their first cardiac event. Getting more sleep also lowered the participants' risk for another cardiovascular event or death. Swapping 30 minutes of sedentary behavior for 30 minutes of sleep reduced the risk by 14%. "We were surprised that replacing sedentary time with sleep also lowered risk," said Diaz, a certified exercise physiologist. "Sleep is a restorative behavior that helps the body and mind recover, which is especially important after a serious health event like a heart attack." During the follow-up period, 50 participants – about 8% – experienced another cardiac event or died. The findings indicate "that one doesn't have to start running marathons after a cardiovascular event to see benefits," Diaz said. "Sitting less and moving or sleeping a little more can make a real difference." Even small tasks, such as tidying up the house or a slow stroll were "nearly as beneficial as moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activities, like biking or doing aerobics," Dr. Bethany Barone Gibbs said in the news release. She is chair of the department of epidemiology and biostatistics at the School of Public Health at West Virginia University in Morgantown. The study provides more support for a "sit less, move more" strategy for people who experienced a heart event – and especially those who may have barriers to more intense exercise, said Barone Gibbs, who was not involved in the research. "These findings suggest sitting less and doing anything else – like taking a walk, cooking, playing with your dog or gardening – will help you stay healthier," she said.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Michigan plans to remove 318,000 inactive voters. Why officials say that's a good thing
Michigan is set to remove more than 318,000 inactive voter registrations next month from its voter rolls, the Michigan Secretary of State office, announced Tuesday. 'This is a milestone for Michigan's secure and accessible election system,' Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said. 'State and local election officials are constantly working to maintain our voter rolls transparently, accurately, and in accordance with state and federal law." There is no evidence than inactive voter registrations have been used to fraudulently cast ballots in Michigan elections, Benson's office said in the news release. Michigan has approximately 7.3 million active registered voters and a voting age population of about 7.9 million people. Registration numbers also include inactive voters, which raises the total registrations. Some people — including billionaire Elon Musk — suggested the total showed more people were voting in 2024 than actually live in the state, and therefore were cheating. 'Jocelyn Michelle Benson, shame on you for blatantly lying to the public!' Musk, who owns X, wrote in an X post directed at Michigan's secretary of state. 'You only plan to remove ineligible voters AFTER this election. That necessarily means that there are far more people registered to vote than there eligible voters.' Benson responded on X, stating: 'Let's be clear: @elonmusk is spreading dangerous disinformation. Here are the facts: There aren't more voters than citizens in Michigan. There are 7.2 million active registered voters and 7.9 citizens of voting age in our state. Musk is pushing a misleading number that includes 1.2 million inactive records slated for removal in accordance with the law.' In addition to the 318,000 that will be removed in April, there are approximately 577,000 inactive registrations slated for cancellation at later dates. There are about 600,000 inactive voter registrations belonging to voters who have not cast a ballot in the last six years and who may have died or moved. Michigan ranked fifth in the nation in 2022 for removing registrations of voters who died, according to data from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. Clerks receive information daily from the Social Security Death Index and can use other information, like obituaries or death notifications from the voter's family, to remove them from the voter file. State and federal law requires inactive registrations to stay in the qualified voter file unless election officials receive reliable information that the voter is no longer eligible to vote. Michigan participates in the Electronic Registration Information Center, a non-partisan national tool that compares voters files and will alert officials if a voter has recently registered in another state. Federal law requires that voters who are inactive remain on the voter rolls for two federal election cycles (four years) unless they confirm that they have moved. Officials can cancel registrations if voters don't respond to their clerk or vote in that period. The Bureau of Elections sent election mail to every registered voter in 2020, and every mailing returned by the post office as undeliverable triggered the two-federal cycle waiting period for that voter, the release said. Inactive voters also received notice prior to the 2022 election that their registration could be eligible for cancellation. Michigan has removed more than 1.1 million out-of-date registrations from the rolls since Benson took office, the release said. Voters who are slated for cancellation in April have a last opportunity to keep their registration active. Michiganders who want to keep their registration active can email ElectionData@ to request a copy of the cancellation list. They have until March 28 to review and update their registration prior to cancellation. Additionally voters can check their registration status online at or by contacting their local clerk. Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan to remove inactive voter registrations. What to know
