Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act

# Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act – Summary **What the Bill Does** This law allows the Treasury Department to permanently access death records from the Social Security Administration to prevent the government from accidentally sending benefit payments to deceased people. Previously, the Social Security Administration was only required to share its "Death Master File" with the Treasury Department's "Do Not Pay" system for three years.

This bill makes that data-sharing arrangement permanent, helping catch and stop improper payments before they happen. **Who It Affects** The bill primarily affects people receiving government benefits (Social Security, disability payments, etc.) and taxpayers, since it aims to reduce wasted taxpayer money. It also impacts the Social Security Administration and Treasury Department, which will continue coordinating to identify deceased benefit recipients. **Key Provision** The main change is converting a temporary three-year authorization into a permanent one, ensuring ongoing access to death records to identify cases where payments are still being made to people who have passed away. **Current Status** The bill was signed into law, meaning it is now in effect.