S. 269 · 119th Congress · Senate
Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act
Introduced 2025-01-28 · Sponsored by Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA] (R-LA) · Last updated 2026-03-31
Last action (2026-02-10): Became Public Law No: 119-77.
Summary
Makes it permanent for the Treasury Department to access Social Security's death records so the government can catch and stop payments going to people who have died. Previously, this data-sharing arrangement had to be renewed every three years. The fix is straightforward: keep the Do Not Pay system plugged into the Death Master File without a sunset date.
The Good
Permanently stops government payments to dead people
Gives the Treasury Department permanent access to Social Security Administration death records to identify and prevent improper payments. Previously this access was temporary and required periodic reauthorization.
The Bad
Privacy concerns about expanding access to death records
Permanent cross-agency access to death data raises questions about data security and the potential for misuse. Temporary authorizations at least required periodic review of whether the access was being used appropriately.
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