Tom Kind Obituary, Death – A 90-year-old Colorado veteran, Tom Kind, is facing an unusual and frustrating battle—proving to the government that he is still alive. After being mistakenly declared deceased by a healthcare provider, Kind has lost access to his Social Security benefits, healthcare, and even his bank account. Now, he and his family are struggling to navigate the complex bureaucratic process of correcting the error.
A Shocking Notification
A few weeks ago, Kind received an unexpected letter from his healthcare provider stating that he had been dead for a year and a half. The news came as a shock to him and his family, who were immediately thrown into a whirlwind of confusion and frustration.
Kind’s mistaken death designation led to immediate consequences. His Social Security benefits were cut off, meaning he no longer had access to the financial resources he relied on. Additionally, his healthcare coverage was canceled, leaving him vulnerable in case of a medical emergency. His bank account was also affected, complicating his ability to manage daily expenses.
A Difficult Process
As soon as Kind and his family discovered the mistake, they attempted to reach out to the Social Security Administration (SSA) to correct the issue. However, getting in touch with the right people proved to be a challenge.
“You can’t talk to anybody. You can’t get through. You sit on the phone for an hour,” Kind explained, highlighting the difficulty of dealing with the system.
His nephew, Jeff Seirup, echoed his concerns, worried that fixing the error could take a long time.
“I’m fearful that it’s going to be a very difficult process,” 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.”
Seeking Help from the Authorities
In an effort to assist Kind, KUSA, a local news outlet, contacted the Social Security Administration office in Denver. The office acknowledged the issue and assured that they would work on getting Kind’s status corrected. According to the SSA, about 3 million deaths are reported to the agency every year, but less than a third of a percent of those reports turn out to be errors.
While this may seem like a small percentage, for those affected—like Kind—the consequences can be severe. Losing access to government benefits, healthcare, and financial accounts due to a clerical mistake can create significant hardship, especially for elderly individuals who rely on these resources for daily living.
Steps to Fix the Error
The Social Security Administration advises anyone who has been mistakenly declared dead to contact their local SSA office as soon as possible. To correct the error, the affected individual must present a valid, non-expired form of identification to confirm their identity. However, even with proper documentation, getting reinstated in the system can take time.
Kind remains hopeful that the issue will be resolved soon, allowing him to regain his benefits and resume his normal life. However, his story highlights the challenges many people face when dealing with government bureaucracy and the importance of accurate record-keeping.
“I’m just looking for whoever has some ideas to turn the benefits back on,” Kind said, hoping that his case will be resolved quickly.
Conclusion
Being mistakenly declared dead has caused significant stress and disruption for Tom Kind, who is now fighting to prove he is alive. His struggle underscores the challenges individuals can face when dealing with bureaucratic errors, especially when they impact critical services like Social Security and healthcare. While the SSA has acknowledged the issue and is working to fix it, Kind’s case serves as a reminder of the importance of accurate data management and efficient government response to errors.
