According to a government watchdog report released on Thursday, the US government sends at least 1.1 million stimulus checks to more than 1 million dead people who died due to COVID-19.

Regarding to the $2.2 trillion CARES Act, checks, called Economic Impact Payments, of up to $1,200 were sent in most cases to people who filed income tax returns for 2018 or 2019.

People making up to $75,000 a year received checks for $1,200 and couples making up to $150,000 and filing a joint tax return received $2,400, with an additional $500 per qualifying child. The payments decreased for those making more than $75,000, with an income cap of $99,000 per individual or $198,000 for couples.

The Government Accountability Office said that a legal interpretation left the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service unable to use government death records to stop the stimulus checks from going to people who are dead.

Due to which nearly 1.1 million payments totaling nearly $1.4 billion were distributed to dead people as of April 30, the report said.

According to the IRS, more than 159 million checks totaling $267 billion were distributed under the law.