S. 269 · Signed into law · Social Welfare

Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act

Sponsor: John Kennedy (R-LA)

What it does

• Make permanent the Social Security Administration's sharing of its Death Master File with Treasury's Do Not Pay system to identify improper payments to deceased individuals.
• Remove the three-year expiration date currently set on Treasury's access to SSA death records for fraud prevention.
• Enable ongoing verification of beneficiary status across federal payment programs by maintaining continuous access to updated death information.

Official summary

Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act This 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.

Latest action

Feb 10, 2026: Became Public Law No: 119-77.

Committee: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs