Home
Politics

Social Security's 89,000 mistakes, and more

As part of the Obama administration’s stimulus plan, Social Security mistakenly sent 89,000 checks for $250 each to people who were either dead or in jail.

Newsletter sign up Newsletter

By The Week Staff

last updated 8 January 2015

Social Security's 89,000 mistakes

As part of the Obama administration’s stimulus plan, Social Security mistakenly sent 89,000 checks for $250 each to people who were either dead or in jail. About half the checks have been returned, but most of the prisoners will get to keep theirs.

The Washington Post

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

China embraces the automobile

China is fully embracing the car culture. The government has built 30,000 miles of highways, auto sales were up 46 percent last year, and McDonald’s has built 105 drive-throughs there and plans 300 more.

The Wall Street Journal

Social-networking for babies and toddlers

Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox

A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

About 92 percent of American babies and toddlers under 2 have their pictures and names posted online (sometimes along with the names of their mothers) on social-networking sites such as Facebook, a new study found. Privacy advocates warn that identity thieves may someday exploit this information.

CNN.com

CBO projects huge spending increases on the "Big Three"

Over the next decade, spending on the big three entitlement programs—Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid—is projected to rise by 70 percent, 79 percent, and 99 percent, respectively, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

The Wall Street Journal

“Marriage gap” for educated women disappears

The “marriage gap” for women with college degrees has disappeared, according to the Pew Research Center. Of women who attended college, 84 percent have married by age 40—the same percentage as women who did not attend college. “It’s a historic reversal,” said researcher Richard Fry.

The Washington Post

Explore More

Noted

The Week Staff

Social Links Navigation

Latest

What does the Le Pen verdict mean for the future of French politics?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Convicted of embezzlement and slapped with a five year ban on running for public office, where does arch-conservative Marine Le Pen go from here — and will the movement she leads follow?

By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published 31 March 25
Discount stores were thriving. How did they stumble?
The Explainer Blame Walmart — and inflation

By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published 31 March 25
Kaja Kallas: the EU's new chief diplomat shaping the future of European defense
In the Spotlight Former Estonian Prime Minister's status as an uncompromising Russia hawk has gone from liability to strength

By David Faris Published 31 March 25