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Dead Wrong: SSA Error Costs Woman Benefits
24 Jun
Summary
- Woman recovering from heart failure was declared dead by SSA.
- The error caused loss of benefits and tens of thousands in bills.
- SSA acknowledged the mistake but could not explain its origin.
Adrienne Wells-Chapman, an Atlanta resident recovering from congestive heart failure, has been mistakenly declared deceased by the Social Security Administration (SSA). This error, occurring in September 2025, resulted in the immediate cessation of her vital benefits, including access to her bank account, food assistance, and Medicaid coverage.
Without her essential benefits, Wells-Chapman has incurred significant medical debt, with bills from Emory and Piedmont amounting to $48,000 and $52,000, respectively. She has been actively trying to rectify the situation with the SSA, where a representative acknowledged the error but could not provide an explanation.
This situation echoes past reports of erroneous death designations by the SSA, which former Commissioner Martin O'Malley linked to staffing reductions contributing to processing delays. Wells-Chapman, unable to work due to her heart condition, has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to manage her medical expenses while she awaits the correction of her status.
