A Lincoln, Nebraska man says he’s not dead, despite what the Social Security Administration has said.
Chuck Zellers learned of his demise in March after his Social Security deposit was removed from his bank account while he and his wife, Alice, were in Arizona, he told the Lincoln Journal Star.
They talked to a woman at the Social Security office who checked her computer and told him, “‘Oh, by golly, you are dead,'” Zellers said.
“She told me it could be a funeral home declared you deceased; or that someone just put in a wrong keystroke or something like that,” he said.
But Zellers, 73, admitted he will probably never know how it happened.
So, he’s spent the past few weeks going from agency to agency, business to business, proving with various documents that Charles Richard Zellers II, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is not dead yet.
It was “a lot of driving and a lot of calling,” he said.
He retired from his computer job at Unisys in 2000, and since then his pension and Social Security checks have been his main source of income. He hadn’t received either check in over two months.
Luckily, when he cut his Arizona trip short and returned home, his local Social Security office paid him what he was owed — but only after they saw him alive.
His Veteran’s Administration disability payments were recently reinstated and his credit rating is also back.
“It looks like they are reversing things for me,” Zellers said.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Shirley Young says
Well, I guess that’s another way Obummer and his ilk can get rid of no-supporters. I wouldn’t put anything, including murder, past this dictator and his group of crazies, illegals, Muzzies, etc.
concerned citizen says
Thankfully the man was able to clear up the situation.
Alan says
“Someone pressed the wrong button”, no doubt. Seems like no real harm was done, this time, what about “next time”. Who blew it, and what steps are, have been or will be taken to prevent a repeat? Also, what happened to the “button pusher”, promoted perhaps?
Daphine Sams says
I CHECKED THE SOCIAL SECURITY’S DEATH INDEX AND SOMEONE WITH MY NAME IS LISTED IN 1995 AS DEAD.
I CHECKED THE LIST COMPLETELY FOR MY PARENTS AND BROTHERS WHO HAVE PASSED ON AS LATE AS 1959, 1994, 2004 AND 2008. NONE ARE LISTED DEAD. BUT, MY NAME IS THERE. I CHECKED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY HAVE MY MIDDLE NAME LISTED WITH THEIR NAMES AND THERE ARE OVER 3400 WITH THE ACTUAL SPELLING OF THE UNSUAL NAME. ???? SS SAYS IT’S JUST A CONCIDENCE.
Marcia says
I m 75 and Social Security said I was dead. I went to the local off and they would not see me so I went through a door and told them someone will see me NOw> I TOLD THEM I AM NOT DEAD AND THEY DID NOT BELIVE ME. iT TOO 3 MONTHS TO PROVE I WAS ALIVE. I FOUND OUT THAT MIRICAL EAR TOLD THEM I WAS DEAD. MIRICAL EAR CALL ME EVERY DAY TO SAY I SHOULD BUY HAARING AIDS I KEEP TELLING I DO NOT NEED THEM SO ONE DAY I TOLD THEM “SHE DIED” I AM HER DAUGHTER THEY NEVER CALLED ME BACK
Alan Humphries says
This happens at the VA all the time and people have a difficult time restoring their name. Hard to convince a pencil pushing moron you’re alive even when standing in front of them.
St. Edgar says
I’m Surprised that it doesn’t happen more often. If you lose your wallet and it has your SS card and all other personal ID in it, a thief can buy a million dollar life insurance policy and name themselves as beneficiary. They then can call the SS office, declare you dead, or just have you murdered.