Nationwide — Adrienne Wells-Chapman, an African American woman from Atlanta, Georgia, says a Social Security Administration error wrongly declared her dead while she was recovering from congestive heart failure. The mistake has cut off key benefits, leaving her facing tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills.
She said she was still recovering in the hospital when she discovered the problem. She said the Social Security Administration listed her as deceased in September 2025, even though she was alive and receiving treatment.
The mistake quickly affected several parts of her life. She lost access to her bank account, Medicaid coverage, and food assistance benefits. She said the situation added stress during an already difficult recovery.
“I’ve been fighting, fighting to stay on this Earth and to stay alive,” she told WSB-TV. “For someone to clerically list me as deceased, it took a toll on me.”
She spent months trying to correct the records, repeatedly contacting the Social Security Administration. In a recorded phone call, an agency representative acknowledged the problem but said they could not explain how it happened.
Without Medicaid coverage, Wells-Chapman began receiving large medical bills. She said one bill from Emory totaled $48,000, while another from Piedmont reached $52,000. The expenses continued to grow as she worked to restore her benefits.
The Social Security Administration said federal privacy laws prevent it from discussing individual cases but confirmed that it is reviewing the matter. The agency has previously reported thousands of cases involving people who were mistakenly listed as dead.
Former Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley previously said staffing reductions contributed to processing delays and clerical mistakes that affected beneficiaries.
Wells-Chapman said the error continues to impact both her health and finances. “They are terminating people’s financial lives, making their bank accounts get closed. Imagine that happening, and then you can’t open up a new account,” she said.
Unable to work because of her heart condition, she has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover medical costs while she fights to correct her records and regain her benefits. It has so far raised over $1,400.