“I Was Legally Dead for Four Years, Which Left Me Unable to Vote, Drive or Claim Tax Returns”

Credit: SWNS / Jeff Athey

A man says he was declared dead by social security and tax officials - which left him unable to drive, vote or claim tax returns for four years.

Jeff Athey, now 28, was stated as passed away by the US Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in 2017.

Jeff, a writer, actor and producer from New York City, had to fight for several years to get "legally resurrected".

From 2017 to 2021, Jeff was unable to renew his driving licence, which meant he couldn't drive.

His voter registration was removed, leaving him unable to cast his vote in the 2018 midterm elections.

And whilst able to pay taxes, he couldn't claim tax returns.

Jeff first realised he had been declared dead when his tax return was denied in March 2019.

He immediately went to a local SSA office and was met with an employee who had no idea how to carry out his request.