Every year, the federal government accidentally sends payments to people who have died — sometimes for months or years after their death. This bill would improve the system by requiring the Social Security Administration to share its death records with the government's "Do Not Pay" system, which federal agencies use to screen payments before they go out. It also adds a safeguard: the SSA can only record someone as deceased if it has "clear and convincing evidence" — protecting living people from being wrongly flagged. The changes would take effect on December 27, 2026.
Congressional Summary
Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People ActThis bill permanently allows the Department of the Treasury to access certain death records maintained by the Social Security Administration (SSA) in order to facilitate the identification and prevention of improper payments (e.g., payments to deceased individuals). Current law requires the SSA to share its Death Master File with the Do Not Pay system maintained by Treasury for three years. The bill makes this requirement permanent.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-04-08
- Date Added
- 2026-04-09