The battle to prove that you are alive: The story of Wilfredo Pagan
Imagine, if the government declares you dead and you have to prove that you are alive. This is not a story from a film, but a statement of the true life difficulties of 77-year-old Wilfredo Pagan. Pagan, who lives in Long Island, New York, has been struggling to get his Social Security pension and benefits for the last several years, but every time the government declares him dead.
He has told the authorities several times that he is still alive, but his efforts have always been thwarted. He is aging, his health is deteriorating, and it has become extremely difficult for him to live without Social Security benefits. Let us know the full story of his unique but sad battle.
Government mistake and Pagan’s trouble
Wilfredo Pagan’s problem started when he applied for his benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). But when he applied, he was told that according to the records he was no longer alive.
He was shocked to hear this. He thought that maybe it was a minor mistake which would be corrected soon. But when he tried to get it corrected, the government officials did not help him.
Pagan visited the SSA office with his birth certificate, Social Security card and other necessary documents to prove that he was alive. But the employee there accused him of having a fake card.
Imagine, a 77-year-old man has to run around government offices to prove that he is alive and has to endure humiliation again and again. Not only was his application rejected again and again, but no government official took any concrete steps to solve his problem.
Even after getting the passport, he was declared ‘dead’
Wilfredo Pagan also got a US passport in 2025. Usually, to get a passport, a thorough investigation is done by government departments, which also includes verification of his social security number.
Now it was clear that if the government issued him a passport, it meant he was alive. But the surprising thing was that the Social Security Administration still considered him dead. This matter became even more strange when Pagan was repeatedly sent ‘death notices’ through government letters. ## Was someone else taking money in his name in the Dominican Republic? The most shocking thing in this entire incident came to light when Pagan’s family came to know that someone in the Dominican Republic was taking social security benefits in his name. That means something very wrong was going on in the government system. 1. On one hand, the real Wilfredo Pagan was being declared dead. 2. On the other hand, someone else was stealing his identity and receiving government benefits. Hearing this, Pagan and his family’s worries increased even more. They appealed to the authorities several times. But every time he was ignored.
Family’s hope and struggle
Wilfredo Pagan’s family never left his side during this difficult time. His goddaughter Dianna Bain kept calling government offices, writing letters to officials and making every possible effort to get this mistake rectified.
But months passed without a response from the government.
The biggest concern was that if Pagan needed to be hospitalized for medical needs, he would be denied admission because he was listed as “dead” in government records.
Finally, a ray of hope came after media intervention
When Pagan and his family were disappointed everywhere, they sought the help of the media.
When the matter appeared in newspapers and news channels, the government suddenly swung into action.
The Social Security Administration contacted Pagan’s family and gave them an appointment at the Freeport office.
This was the first time in this entire struggle that a government official personally contacted them. However, it is still not clear how soon this problem will be resolved. But the family is now hopeful that maybe now Wilfredo Pagan will get his rights.
Conclusion: This is not just a fight for money, but also for respect
This story of Wilfredo Pagan is not just a problem of one person, but an example of the complexities and mistakes of the government system.
This fight is not just for social security benefits, but also for respect and self-respect.
Imagine, When an elderly person has to prove again and again that he is alive, when he is insulted in government offices, when his identity is stolen by someone else, how painful it would be.
Now it remains to be seen how long the government takes to correct this mistake.
But one thing is clear – If Pagan and his family had given up, then perhaps their fight would never have moved forward. With their courage and the support of the media Now there is hope that they will get justice and they will be able to live their lives without any mental stress.
FAQs
Who is Wilfredo Pagan, and what happened to his Social Security benefits?
Wilfredo Pagan is a retiree whose Social Security payments were mistakenly reduced, draining his savings and impacting his health.
What mistake did Social Security make in his case?
A miscalculation or bureaucratic error led to sudden benefit cuts, leaving him struggling financially.
How has this mistake affected his life savings?
Without his expected benefits, he’s had to dip into his savings to cover basic expenses, depleting his funds.