Reason.com - Free Minds and Free Markets
Reason logo Reason logo
  • Latest
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Crossword
  • Video
    • Reason TV
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • Free Media
    • The Reason Interview
  • Podcasts
    • All Shows
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
    • Freed Up
    • The Soho Forum Debates
  • Volokh
  • Newsletters
  • Donate
    • Donate Online
    • Ways To Give To Reason Foundation
    • Torchbearer Society
    • Planned Giving
  • Subscribe
    • Reason Plus Subscription
    • Print Subscription
    • Gift Subscriptions
    • Subscriber Support

Log In

Create new account

Social Security

Brickbat: Declared Dead

Charles Oliver | 10.30.2025 4:00 AM

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google
Media Contact & Reprint Requests
A doctor in her office speaks with a woman during a consultation. | Roman Kosolapov | Dreamstime.com
(Roman Kosolapov | Dreamstime.com)

In Pace, Florida, the Social Security Administration mistakenly declared Patsy Rosher dead after her husband died, which led to termination of her Social Security, Medicare and supplemental insurance benefits just as she was diagnosed with aggressive pancreatic cancer. Doctors told Rosher she no longer had coverage, and when she went to a Social Security office, she was told the ongoing government shutdown meant the agency couldn't immediately fix the error.

Start your day with Reason. Get a daily brief of the most important stories and trends every weekday morning when you subscribe to Reason Roundup.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

NEXT: Trump’s Move To Replace 12 ICE Directors Could Mean More Aggressive and Unconstitutional Immigration Enforcement

Charles Oliver is a contributing editor at Reason.

Social SecurityHealth insuranceFederal governmentGovernment ShutdownBrickbatsFlorida
Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

Show Comments (14)

Latest

The Peptide Gray Market Is Already Here. The FDA Is Just Catching Up.

Meagan O'Rourke | 7.27.2026 4:45 PM

'AI Kill Switch Act' Won't Stop Rogue AI, but It Will Slow Down Innovation

Reem Ibrahim | 7.27.2026 3:10 PM

Waltz: Interceptor Shortage Is Biden's Fault, Fake News, and Illegal To Discuss

Matthew Petti | 7.27.2026 12:37 PM

No, Remote Work Is Not Making Us Miserable

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 7.27.2026 12:16 PM

The Energy Department Admits the OMB Canceled Grants 'Solely' To Punish Trump's Political Opponents

Jacob Sullum | 7.27.2026 9:45 AM

Recommended

  • About
  • Browse Topics
  • Events
  • Staff
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Shop
  • Amazon
Reason Facebook@reason on XReason InstagramReason TikTokReason YoutubeApple PodcastsReason on FlipboardReason RSS Add Reason to Google

© 2026 Reason Foundation | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Reason's July 4 Special!

For America's 250th, Get 2 Years of Reason for $17.76

Celebrate your independence with a subscription to Reason magazine, your most trusted source of honest, insightful news and analysis.

Subscribe to Reason