Imagine being declared dead… twice
Hey, imagine this for a second: you’re going about your day, maybe trying to file your taxes, when suddenly, the government tells you—you’re dead. Yes, really. That’s precisely what happened to Gene Indenbaum, a man from Smithtown, Long Island, who’s now become the face of one of the strangest bureaucratic mess-ups in recent memory.
Surprisingly, this wasn’t the first instance. Gene has now been mistakenly declared dead by federal agencies—twice.
The first time it happened
Back in 2022, Gene was dealing with the heartbreaking loss of his wife of 49 years. As part of the painful process, he began notifying the appropriate agencies, closing her accounts, and handling paperwork—like any grieving spouse would.
But during one of those calls to the Social Security Administration (SSA), something unexpected happened. Instead of just processing his wife’s death, the SSA also marked him as deceased.
“We’re sorry for your loss, but you’re dead,” a representative told him.
Gene’s reaction? “Oh boy, does this have any far-reaching effects?” And unfortunately, yes, it did.
The fallout was immediate and serious
After being mistakenly listed as dead, Gene’s life started unravelling, not because of something he did wrong—but because of an error in a federal system.
He suddenly lost:
- Health insurance
- Access to credit cards
- Various account privileges
For months, Gene was caught in a whirlwind of phone calls and letters, trying to convince banks, insurers, and government offices that he was, in fact, very much alive.
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Just when things seemed fine…
Fast forward to early 2024. Gene thought the worst was behind him. He had finally cleared up the SSA mix-up, thanks to the help of Rep. Nick LaLota’s office, which stepped in to set the record straight.
“It worked,” Gene said. “And I’m thinking, ‘Oh my God, two years of bureaucratic nightmares are finished.’”
But nope. Not quite.
Declared dead… again
Earlier this year, Gene was getting ready to file his 2023 taxes—his first time doing so as a single person. That’s when his accountant called with some shocking news: the IRS had no record of him being alive.
Once again, Gene had been declared deceased—this time by the Internal Revenue Service.
“I had to pull over on the road. I was so upset,” he said in an interview with News 12 Long Island.
How does this even happen?
You’re probably wondering: how does someone get declared dead twice?
That’s the question Gene’s been asking, too. It seems like a glitch between government databases, but once one agency marks you as deceased, that data can easily travel across systems, making the mistake spread like wildfire.
And fixing it? That’s no easy feat.
The IRS stays silent
Gene tried to contact the IRS to figure out what went wrong this time. But like many government agencies, they’re not allowed to talk about individual cases publicly. So when News 12 Long Island reached out for answers, the IRS declined to comment.
Unfortunately, that leaves people like Gene caught in a loop of confusion and red tape.
And he’s not alone
Gene’s not the only one facing this bizarre problem. Other Americans have shared similar stories in recent years.
Take Leonard “Ned” Johnson, an 82-year-old man from Seattle. He found out he was marked dead when his bank sent him a letter. That error:
- Stopped his Social Security checks
- Canceled his Medicare coverage
- Created chaos in his daily life
After contacting his local SSA office, Ned finally got his status corrected—but not before experiencing weeks of unnecessary stress.
What happens next?
For Gene, every new tax season now feels like a gamble. “There is no assurance at all,” he said. “Luckily, I only have to file taxes once a year.”
That might sound like a joke, but the worry is real. Each time he interacts with a federal agency, he can’t help but wonder: Will they say I’m dead again?
To prove he’s alive (again), Gene had to go back to the Social Security Administration for a new “proof of life” letter. Imagine having to walk into a federal office and say, “Hi, I’m not actually dead. Can I get something in writing?”
What can be done to prevent such an incident?
These aren’t just quirky stories—they highlight serious flaws in federal recordkeeping.
Here are a few things that experts say could help:
- Improved cross-checking between agencies before making status changes
- Better training for staff handling sensitive records like death notices
- Faster response teams to assist people wrongly listed as deceased
- More transparent appeal systems for those trying to prove they’re alive
While cases like Gene’s are rare, they do happen—and when they do, the impact is overwhelming.
Gene’s message to the government: Please, get it right
Gene isn’t just frustrated—he’s worried. What if this happens again next year? What if it prevents him from renewing his health coverage or applying for a loan?
He’s now sharing his story not just to vent, but to raise awareness. No one should have to live in fear that their existence might be erased by a keystroke.
“I just want someone to fix these issues for good,” he said. “I want to live my life, not constantly prove that I’m still living it.”
