It is true that improper payments have been made—including some to dead people—but the claims thrown out by Elon Musk and Donald Trump are overstated.

Elon Musk’s recent suggestion that millions of deceased individuals continue to collect Social Security benefits sent former Gov. Martin O’Malley (D-MD) into a fit of laughter Tuesday. The on-air moment came during an interview on CNN as O’Malley made light of Musk’s social media remarks where he criticized the Social Security Administration,