DENVER, Col. (KUSA) – A 90-year-old veteran in Colorado is trying to prove his existence.
Tom Kind was notified of his own death by a healthcare provider, despite him still being alive, and now he’s struggling to get the government to accept proof of life.
“You can’t talk to anybody. You can’t get through. You sit on the phone for an hour,” Kind said.
A couple of weeks ago, Kind received a letter from his healthcare provider notifying him he had died a year and a half ago.
Kind lost access to his benefits, healthcare and even his bank account.
His family has struggled to get in touch with anyone who can help.
“I’m fearful that it’s going to be a very difficult process,” Kind’s nephew Jeff Seirup said. “If you talk to Tom, he’ll tell you that it’s impossible. He’s been very unsuccessful. He’s been trying for 10 days or so.”
KUSA got in touch with the Social Security Administration in Denver. Staff there promised to help Kind become “un-dead,” or at least, that’s how the media outlet interpreted it.
The office said that of the roughly 3 million deaths reported to the office every year, less than a third of a percent need to be corrected.
“I’m just looking for whoever has some ideas to turn the benefits back on,” Kind said.
The SSA said a person should contact their local social security office as soon as possible if they suspect they have been incorrectly listed as deceased.
A non-expired ID is needed to confirm a person’s identity.
Copyright 2025 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.