Elon Musk Highlights $382 Million in Fraudulent Unemployment Claims Involving Seniors and Children

Elon Musk has drawn attention to significant fraudulent unemployment claims in the U.S., citing data indicating irregularities in benefit payouts. According to data from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), claims totaling $59 million were made by 24,500 individuals over 115 years old, while $254 million was claimed by 28,000 children aged 1-5. Additionally, $69 million was claimed by 9,700 people with birth dates more than 15 years in the future. Musk shared these findings on X, noting that in one instance, someone with a recorded birth year of 2154 received $41,000. DOGE reports that it has saved $150 billion through measures including fraud prevention and contract cancellations. The Department of Labor defines unemployment insurance fraud as knowingly submitting false information, collecting benefits while ineligible, or intentionally not reporting wages while collecting full benefits. The DOGE, which Musk heads, was created by executive order to slim down government spending and restructure the federal workforce. Critics, however, say that DOGE has cut essential programs and staff.