WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

S. 269 · 119th Congress · Public Law 119-77

Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act

Became lawSocial Welfare
IntroducedJan 28, 2025
Passed SenateSep 19, 2025
Passed HouseJan 12, 2026
To PresidentFeb 3, 2026
Became lawFeb 10, 2026

How this bill changes the law

Sourced

S. 269 changed 1 section of existing law. Read from the bill text in its final form, as sent to the President.

42 U.S.C. 405

What the words changed: every change, in place (2)

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what was struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

  1. 42 U.S.C. 405(r)changedby S. 269 Sec. 2(a)

    (11) The Commissioner of Social Security shall, to the extent feasible, provide information furnished to the Commissioner under paragraph (1) to the agency operating the Do Not Pay working system described in section 3354(c) of title 31, United States Code, for the authorized uses of the Do Not Pay working system to help prevent improper payments of, and support the recovery of improperly paid, benefits or other payments through a cooperative arrangement with such agency, provided that the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (3) are met with respect to such arrangement with such agency. The Commissioner of Social Security and the agency operating the Do Not Pay working system shall, while the data described in the preceding sentence is being provided to the agency operating the Do Not Pay working system, enter into an agreement based upon an agreed upon methodology, which covers the proportional share of State death data costs, which the Commissioner of Social Security and the agency operating the Do Not Pay working system may periodically review.(12) The Commissioner of Social Security may not record a death to a record that may be provided under this section for any individual unless the Commissioner of Social Security has found it has clear and convincing evidence to support that the individual should be presumed to be deceased.

    The bill says: Section 205(r) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(r)), as amended by section 801(a)(7) of title VIII of division FF of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116–260), is amended by striking paragraph (11) and inserting the following:

    Bill text

  2. 42 U.S.C. 405(r)(7)added (C)by S. 269 Sec. 2(b)

    (C) notify any agency that has a cooperative arrangement with the Commissioner of Social Security under paragraph (3) or (11) of the error.

    The bill says: Section 205(r)(7) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(r)(7)), as added by section 801(a)(4) of title VIII of division FF of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116–260), is amended by striking "and" at the end of subparagraph (A), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B) and inserting "; and", and by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

    Bill text

From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, latest edition, which may not yet show changes made since.

What it does

Sourced

Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act

This act permanently allows the Department of the Treasury to access certain death records maintained by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to help prevent and recover improper payments (e.g., payments to deceased individuals). The act also establishes evidentiary requirements the SSA must meet before identifying an individual as deceased.

Current law requires the SSA to share its Death Master File with the Do Not Pay system maintained by Treasury for three years. The act makes this requirement permanent. Treasury must enter into an agreement with the SSA related to Treasury's share of the cost of state death data.

The act also prohibits the SSA from recording a death in the master file unless the SSA has clear and convincing evidence that the individual should be presumed deceased. If an individual is incorrectly identified as deceased and provides the SSA with supporting documentation, the SSA may notify certain agencies that have access to the master file, including Treasury and federal or state agencies that provide or disburse federally funded benefits.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Public Law, Feb 10, 2026).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

Sourced
  1. 2026-02-10Became Public Law No: 119-77.Library of Congress
  2. 2026-02-10Became Public Law No: 119-77.Library of Congress
  3. 2026-02-10Signed by President.Library of Congress
  4. 2026-02-10Signed by President.Library of Congress
  5. 2026-02-03Presented to President.House floor actions
  6. 2026-02-03Presented to President.Library of Congress
  7. 2026-01-12Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.House floor actions
  8. 2026-01-12On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H634)House floor actions
  9. 2026-01-12Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H634)Library of Congress
  10. 2026-01-12DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 269.House floor actions
  11. 2026-01-12Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H634-637)House floor actions
  12. 2026-01-12Mr. Smith (MO) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.House floor actions
  13. 2025-10-10Held at the desk.House floor actions
  14. 2025-10-10Received in the House.House floor actions
  15. 2025-10-08Message on Senate action sent to the House.Senate
  16. 2025-09-19Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S6798)Senate
  17. 2025-09-19Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.Library of Congress
  18. 2025-09-19Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6798)Senate
  19. 2025-09-19Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.Library of Congress
  20. 2025-07-30Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.Senate
  21. 2025-01-28Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.Senate
  22. 2025-01-28Introduced in SenateLibrary of Congress

Show key steps only

After it became law

Sourced

Nothing in the Federal Register names Public Law 119-77 yet (checked Oct 27, 2026). Many laws need no new rules: they set penalties, name a building, or fund something directly.

Cosponsors

  • Joni Ernst R-IA
  • Margaret Wood Hassan D-NH
  • Ashley Moody R-FL
  • Gary C. Peters D-MI
  • Mark R. Warner D-VA