Action 9: North Carolina switching to modern death records system

Boyd Huneycutt Jr. is very much alive, but he said Social Security kept declaring him dead.

"Happened to me three times this year," Honycutt said. "First time, I was somewhat upset. Second time, I was somewhat upset. But, this last time, I said, 'Upset's gone. I'm mad.'"

Huneycutt said he discovered the error when his disability checks stopped coming. He said he's had a hard time getting those checks, so he's had a hard time paying bills on time.

"It snowballs your whole life,” Huneycutt said. "I can't borrow money.  My credit's in the toilet."

Plus, if he wanted to buy a car, buy a house, or open a bank account, the business would run his Social Security number, believe he's dead and think someone's trying to pull a fast one.

"I didn't make this mistake. I shouldn't be penalized for other people's mistakes,” Huneycutt said.

Every year the U.S. Social Security Administration mistakenly declares thousands of Americans dead.

Social Security records 2.8 million deaths each year and said fewer than 7,400 are wrong. It blamed states, family members, funeral homes, financial institutions and its own keying errors.

The agency has been urging all states to switch to an electronic reporting system called the Electronic Death Registration or EDR - for about 15 years now.  It said EDR can virtually eliminate death reporting errors because it cuts out middlemen and can identify conflicting information more quickly.

Almost every state, including South Carolina, has made the switch. North Carolina kept putting it off, but, Action 9 investigator Jason Stoogenke found out the state is finally switching.

He confirmed North Carolina has set aside money for EDR and is already taking bids to do the work.  One frustrated insider told Stoogenke the state's coming into the modern age, but there's still no date for when the new system will be in place.

Stoogenke asked the Social Security Administration why this keeps happening to Huneycutt.  So far, the agency has not responded. But Huneycutt thinks it's because the agency keeps confusing him with his father, who died years ago. They shared a name and, for a while, an address.

If Social Security declares you dead:

• Go to the Social Security office right away.
• Bring a driver's license, passport, or other official ID.
• The office should give you a letter explaining the situation.
• Show that letter to your bank, credit card company, or anyone else who thinks you're dead.

Cox Media Group