Maryland
‘Messes up my life': How a typo led to a Maryland woman being declared dead
A Maryland woman trying to renew her driver’s license was turned away because she’d been declared dead, driving her into the painstaking process of bringing herself back to life.
Nicole Paulino of Gaithersburg was shocked by what popped up in the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration’s system in November.
“It then appears that I am deceased,” she said. “I got a little frightened, I’m not gonna lie, and surprised, because I am alive. I’m here.”
The MVA told Paulino they couldn’t renew her license, she said.
She also got a letter from the IRS saying “deceased taxpayer.”
Health insurance was canceled for Paulino and her three kids. Medical bills are piling up, and she can’t get the inhaler she needs for her asthma.
“This really, really messes up my life,” Paulino said.
“It has affected me a lot,” she said, tearfully.
News4 reached out to various Maryland government agencies to figure out how this could have happened.
Then Paulino got a call from Social Security, she said. They told her the mistake was due to a typo.
According to the representative, a funeral home tried to report someone else dead but got a digit wrong in the Social Security number, submitting Paulino’s number instead.
“It’s affected my health, my mental health and …” she trailed off, crying.
The Social Security Administration sent News4 a statement saying its records are highly accurate and of the more than 3 million death reports they receive each year, less than one-third of one percent are subsequently corrected.
Meaning about 10,000 reports are wrong each year.
“This happens almost on a daily basis,” attorney Joseph McClelland told the News4 I-Team in 2022.
He’s built a business out of bringing people back from the dead.
“The impact is the worst impact you can have on your credit report,” he said.
A Prince George’s County family felt that impact two years ago when 13-year-old Elise Allen was declared dead.
“It sounds crazy, me on the phone arguing with somebody trying to explain to them that my daughter is not dead,” Melissa Allen told News4 in 2023.
Darby Nye of Arlington, Virginia, was declared dead in 2021, alive in 2022, then dead again in 2023. It impacted his insurance and pension.
Paulino said that after News4 got involved, she finally got a letter from the Social Security Administration Wednesday saying she’s officially been brought back to life.
“I tried doing it myself and I didn’t get anything resolved,” she said. “If it wasn’t for NBC news that offered to help me, I would have never gotten this problem resolved.”
Social Security says anyone mistakenly declared dead should contact them as soon as possible so they can take immediate action. You’ll have to provide at least one form of current identification.
And make sure you get that letter confirming you’re alive in order to fix all the other issues the mistake caused.
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Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Maryland Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 15, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 15 drawing
23-35-59-63-68, Powerball: 02, Power Play: 4
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 15 drawing
Midday: 4-8-0
Evening: 8-9-1
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 15 drawing
Midday: 6-1-7-7
Evening: 3-5-5-9
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from Dec. 15 drawing
Midday: 4-8-5-3-9
Evening: 6-6-5-2-7
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash4Life numbers from Dec. 15 drawing
08-10-13-39-60, Cash Ball: 01
Check Cash4Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 15 drawing
9 a.m.: 13
1 p.m.: 02
6 p.m.: 07
11 p.m.: 08
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Bonus Match 5 numbers from Dec. 15 drawing
08-10-22-25-39, Bonus: 16
Check Bonus Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning MultiMatch numbers from Dec. 15 drawing
07-13-14-17-29-38
Check MultiMatch payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from Dec. 15 drawing
20-23-38-42-65, Powerball: 19
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Keno
Drawings are held every four minutes. Check winning numbers here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Maryland Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes above $600, winners can claim by mail or in person from the Maryland Lottery office, an Expanded Cashing Authority Program location or cashiers’ windows at Maryland casinos. Prizes over $5,000 must be claimed in person.
Claiming by Mail
Sign your winning ticket and complete a claim form. Include a photocopy of a valid government-issued ID and a copy of a document that shows proof of your Social Security number or Federal Tax ID number. Mail these to:
Maryland Lottery Customer Resource Center
1800 Washington Boulevard
Suite 330
Baltimore, MD 21230
For prizes over $600, bring your signed ticket, a government-issued photo ID, and proof of your Social Security or Federal Tax ID number to Maryland Lottery headquarters, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Baltimore, MD. Claims are by appointment only, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This location handles all prize amounts, including prizes over $5,000.
Winning Tickets Worth $25,000 or Less
Maryland Lottery headquarters and select Maryland casinos can redeem winning tickets valued up to $25,000. Note that casinos cannot cash prizes over $600 for non-resident and resident aliens (tax ID beginning with “9”). You must be at least 21 years of age to enter a Maryland casino. Locations include:
- Horseshoe Casino: 1525 Russell Street, Baltimore, MD
- MGM National Harbor: 101 MGM National Avenue, Oxon Hill, MD
- Live! Casino: 7002 Arundel Mills Circle, Hanover, MD
- Ocean Downs Casino: 10218 Racetrack Road, Berlin, MD
- Hollywood Casino: 1201 Chesapeake Overlook Parkway, Perryville, MD
- Rocky Gap Casino: 16701 Lakeview Road NE, Flintstone, MD
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Maryland Lottery.
When are the Maryland Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 11 p.m. ET Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5 Midday: 12:27 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, 12:28 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday.
- Pick 3, 4 and 5 Evening: 7:56 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, 8:10 p.m. ET on Sunday.
- Cash4Life: 9 p.m. ET daily.
- Cash Pop: 9 a.m., 1 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. daily.
- Bonus Match 5: 7:56 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, 8:10 p.m. ET on Sunday.
- MultiMatch: 7:56 p.m. Monday and Thursday.
- Powerball Double Play: 11 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Maryland editor. You can send feedback using this form.
December’s first winter storm brought varying amounts of snow to parts of Maryland, from an inch at Baltimore-Washington International Airport to 6 inches in parts of Baltimore County, according to preliminary snowfall totals from the National Weather Service.
Numerous school districts and government offices opened late on Monday due to the storm’s impact on area roads.
The snowfall has ended, and the National Weather Service said the forecast for the coming week shows no chance of a white Christmas, so far, with high temperatures reaching the 50s at least two days.
Here are snowfall totals, in inches, reported by the National Weather Service as of Monday morning for portions of Maryland:
Anne Arundel County
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