What Happens When the Government Thinks You're Dead?

In this episode, Josh and Chuck dive into the surprisingly disturbing world of Social Security numbers and the government's "Death Master File"—a public list of deceased Americans that's supposed to help prevent fraud but sometimes gets it terribly wrong. They explore how tens of thousands of living people end up mistakenly listed as dead, the nightmarish consequences when banks freeze your accounts and companies deny you credit, and why even after getting the error corrected it can take months or years to undo the damage. The guys also look at similar problems around the globe, including India's troubling practice of intentionally "killing people on paper" to steal their land, and share practical advice on what to do if you find yourself accidentally declared deceased by the government.