Access to Death Records May Soon Be Limited

The U.S. Senate has passed a measure to limit public access to death records that identity thieves have used for years to commit tax fraud.

The measure would limit access to information in the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File to certified entities like life insurers and pension funds.  These limits, which would apply for three years after death, are expected to reduce fraudulent claims and save the U.S. government around $786 million over the next decade. 

See Richard Rubin, Death List Limits to Curb Tax Fraud by Identity Thieves, Bloomberg, Dec. 18, 2013.

Special thanks to Jim Hillhouse (Professional Legal Marketing (PLM, Inc.)) for bringing this article to my attention.