Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act
The Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act aims to tighten how the Social Security Administration (SSA) and federal agencies use death data to prevent and recover improper payments. It requires SSA to share death information it collects with the Do Not Pay system (a Treasury-funded tool used to flag potential improper payments across federal programs) through cooperative arrangements with the Do Not Pay program, including agreements on sharing the costs of state death data. It also raises the evidentiary standard for recording a death in SSA records, requiring clear and convincing evidence before marking someone deceased. Additionally, it requires SSA to notify any agency with a cooperative arrangement about identified errors. These changes are slated to take effect on December 27, 2026. Overall, the bill seeks to reduce improper and duplicate payments to people who are actually deceased by improving data coordination and verification.
Key Points
- 1SSA must, to the extent feasible, share information it provides to SSA with the Do Not Pay system to help prevent improper payments and aid recovery of improperly paid benefits or other payments, via cooperative arrangements with the Do Not Pay program, subject to specific restrictions and cost-sharing for state death data.
- 2SSA may not record a death in its systems for someone unless there is clear and convincing evidence that the person should be presumed deceased.
- 3When there is an error related to a deceased individual, SSA must notify any agency that has a cooperative arrangement with SSA under the relevant paragraphs.
- 4The amendments become effective December 27, 2026.
- 5The act emphasizes improved coordination between Federal and State agencies and the Do Not Pay system to reduce improper payments to deceased individuals.