The mix-up affected Paulino’s life severely. “It’s affected my health, my mental health,” she told the outlet. Her health insurance was canceled because of it, and medical bills were piling up. She couldn’t get the inhaler she needed for her asthma. “This really, really messes up my life,” she added.
She also received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) stating she was a “deceased taxpayer.”
The SSA and the Maryland MVA didn’t immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.
