Bill to improve government's anti-fraud checks heads to Trump's desk

"The Do Not Pay system, meant to help government programs verify eligibility before doling out taxpayers' money, will have permanent access to the Social Security Administration's death records to prevent payments to deceased individuals, or fraudsters using their information, under the new law. Treasury's temporary access to the death records was set to lapse at the end of the year, as Congress only provided the system with temporary access in a measure included in a fiscal year 2021 funding bill."

"The Government Accountability Office, inspectors general and the Treasury Department itself have all asked lawmakers to give the anti-fraud system at Treasury permanent access to the Social Security death data to improve the Do Not Pay system. "Think of Treasury as America's bank. Across the country, certifying officers, grant managers, case workers are like bank tellers, responsible for ensuring payments go to eligible individuals and entities," said Renata Miskell, deputy assistant secretary for accounting policy and financial transparency at Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service, at a House Oversight and Reform subcommittee hearing on Tuesday."

Lawmakers approved a bipartisan measure to give the Treasury Department's Do Not Pay system permanent access to Social Security Administration death records. The permanent access aims to prevent payments to deceased individuals and to fraudsters who misuse deceased persons' information. Treasury's temporary access was due to expire after a provision in a fiscal 2021 funding bill, and Treasury estimated over $215 million in savings during a three-year pilot. The Government Accountability Office, inspectors general, and Treasury urged permanent access to improve the anti-fraud tool. Additional agencies are signing up to use the Do Not Pay system.

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