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Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act

Signed Into Law (P.L. 119-77)Last action on Feb 10, 2026Became Public Law No: 119-77.

Bill text replaced

This bill's text was replaced via an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Some metadata (subjects, policy area, committees) may reflect the original bill and not the current text.

Summary

This law addresses a significant government efficiency issue by making permanent an arrangement that helps prevent improper payments to deceased people. The law allows the Department of the Treasury to access death records maintained by the Social Security Administration on an ongoing basis. These death records are used by the Treasury's Do Not Pay system, which is designed to identify and stop payments that should not be made, particularly those going to individuals who have passed away.

Previously, this data-sharing arrangement between the Social Security Administration and the Treasury Department was temporary, set to expire after three years. This law removes that time limitation and makes the arrangement permanent. This means the Treasury Department will have continuous access to updated death information from the Social Security Administration without needing to renew or renegotiate the arrangement.

The practical impact of this law is that it helps protect taxpayer money by reducing improper payments across federal benefit programs. When someone receives Social Security benefits, disability assistance, or other federal payments and passes away, the government can now more efficiently identify these cases and stop the payments. This prevents situations where deceased individuals continue to receive benefits, which represents a loss of public funds.

This law took effect on February 10, 2026, when it was signed by the President. Citizens benefit from this law indirectly through improved government efficiency and reduced waste in federal benefit programs. The law does not change eligibility requirements or benefits for living individuals, but rather improves the government's ability to manage its existing programs responsibly.

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