Feds wrongfully declare Roy woman dead


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ROY, Utah (AP) — A Utah woman is trying to come back from the dead, at least in the federal government's eyes.

Barbara Murphy, of Roy, said a death certificate was somehow posted that makes it appear she died in July 2014.

While she has found it amusing, it has made for an unfunny predicament. The Social Security Administration has been trying to reclaim two years' worth of payments as a result, the 64-year-old told the Deseret News (http://bit.ly/2bq3FnV) this week.

The government has also been trying to get back any Medicare or Medicaid money spent on care she received. Murphy has had to issue letters to all the medical offices she's been to tell them not to return any payments.

She still has no idea how to resolve the situation.

"The only protection I've had is my wonderful bank, because they have worked so hard and diligently to help me," Murphy said.

Cindy Malone, a Social Security Administration regional spokeswoman, said she could not release information about Murphy's case because of privacy laws. She also could not say if anything has been done yet to correct the certificate or how it happened. Social Security issues 2.8 million new reports of death every year from funeral homes, financial institutions and other sources.

"We may never know how it happened. We focus on fixing the issue," Malone said.

Murphy discovered the problem earlier this month when her credit card was declined because Social Security had frozen all her assets. Right now, humor is the only thing that helps.

"It's the only thing carrying me through this," Murphy says of her sense of humor. "I don't know what else to do but laugh."

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Information from: Deseret News, http://www.deseretnews.com

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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