Clay Higgins (R-LA)
Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act
A Republican bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 371.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act," aims to improve coordination between Federal and State agencies and the Do Not Pay working system. It directs the Commissioner of Social Security to provide information to the agency operating the Do Not Pay working system to prevent and recover improper payments. The bill also requires an agreement regarding the proportional share of State death data costs. Furthermore, it establishes a higher evidentiary standard for recording a death. Finally, it adds a requirement to notify agencies about errors regarding individuals incorrectly identified as deceased.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +5
Does this strengthen Social Security?
The bill protects the integrity of Social Security by preventing improper payments and correcting erroneous death records.
- Scored +4
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
Improving coordination to prevent improper payments enhances the fiscal integrity of social programs.
- Scored +4
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill protects seniors by preventing errors in death records that could impact their status or benefits.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Prevention and Recovery of Improper Payments: The Commissioner of Social Security will provide information to the agency operating the Do Not Pay working system to help prevent improper payments and support the recovery of improperly paid benefits or other payments (Section 2(a)).
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Protection Against Incorrect Deceased Records: The Commissioner of Social Security may not record a death for an individual unless there is clear and convincing evidence to support the presumption that the individual is deceased (Section 2(a)).
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Correction of Errors: There is a new requirement to notify any agency that has a cooperative arrangement with the Commissioner of Social Security if an individual was incorrectly identified as deceased (Section 2(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Costs for State Death Data: The bill requires an agreement between the Commissioner of Social Security and the agency operating the Do Not Pay working system that covers the proportional share of State death data costs (Section 2(a)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — Improving coordination to prevent improper payments enhances the fiscal integrity of social programs. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — By preventing improper payments to deceased individuals, the bill reduces unnecessary government outflows. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — The bill helps prevent and recover improper payments, which reduces government waste.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would retired people be better off under this? — The bill protects against incorrect death records which can affect retiree status and benefits. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill protects seniors by preventing errors in death records that could impact their status or benefits.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The requirement for clear and convincing evidence before recording a death protects individual due process. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill improves transparency regarding death records and the correction of errors.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this strengthen Social Security? — The bill protects the integrity of Social Security by preventing improper payments and correcting erroneous death records.
- 1/7/2026
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-426.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 371.
- 12/16/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/10/2025
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 40 - 0.
- 12/9/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/8/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Daniel MeuserRepublican · Pennsylvania
Mariannette Miller-MeeksRepublican · Iowa