JOHNSTOWN, Pa. -- A Cambria County woman said government officials declared her deceased by mistake, putting her health care coverage and Social Security payments at risk.

Catherine Costlow of Johnstown said her son got a phone call from the Social Security Administration on June 30 asking where her funeral arrangements were being made.

Costlow was shocked, because although she is elderly and suffering from several medical conditions, she is still alive.

Her son Richard Costlow said he thought the call was someone playing a joke.

"I was sitting on the porch having a cup of coffee with my mother and thinking that she was a really good looking corpse," Richard Costlow said.

The Social Security Administration said there must have been some kind of computer error processing information from Costlow's medicare coverage that lead to the mix up, but they said they have repaired the problem in their system.

Costlow should have all records changed and indicating that she is alive by Tuesday.