Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act
Latest Action
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 371.
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.
GovScope Watchdog™
AI Government Intelligence™The Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act is a bill that permanently authorizes the Department of the Treasury to access death records maintained by the Social Security Administration (SSA). This access is intended to help identify and prevent improper government payments, such as those made to deceased individuals. Currently, the SSA is required to share its Death Master File with Treasury's Do Not Pay system for a limited period of three years; this bill removes the time limitation, making the data sharing permanent.
This bill aims to reduce improper government payments by permanently allowing Treasury ongoing access to SSA death records to verify payment eligibility.
- Permanently authorizes Treasury to access SSA death records to prevent improper payments.
- Extends the current three-year data sharing requirement indefinitely.
- Targets improper payments including those made to deceased individuals.
['Department of the Treasury, by enhancing its ability to prevent improper payments.', 'Social Security Administration, through continued data sharing with Treasury.', 'Federal government programs that disburse payments, by reducing waste.', 'Taxpayers, by potentially reducing improper government expenditures.']
['The bill does not specify additional oversight or auditing mechanisms for the permanent data sharing.', 'Potential privacy considerations related to the ongoing use of death records.', 'Implementation challenges in maintaining accurate and timely data exchange between SSA and Treasury.']
The bill builds on existing law that requires SSA to share death data with Treasury's Do Not Pay system for three years. By making this data sharing permanent, the legislation seeks to institutionalize a process aimed at reducing improper payments. The bill is currently in process and has been placed on the Union Calendar, indicating it is awaiting further legislative action.
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['Improved accuracy in government payment systems may reduce fraud and waste in other federal programs.', 'Permanent data sharing could lead to increased reliance on SSA death records for eligibility verification across multiple agencies.', 'Potential administrative cost savings from reduced improper payments.']
Transparency around the ongoing use and protection of SSA death records by Treasury is important to monitor. Oversight mechanisms for this permanent data sharing should be clarified to ensure accountability. The bill’s placement on the Union Calendar indicates it is awaiting further legislative consideration, and tracking subsequent actions will be key for public awareness.
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