Impact of State Death Information on Federal Income Security Programs

GAO completed a limited survey to determine whether deaths of Social Security Administration (SSA) title II beneficiaries were being reported to SSA so that benefits could be terminated or otherwise converted to surviving spouses. GAO was concerned about potential overpayments because reporting of deaths to SSA by survivors is voluntary and because there have been disclosures by the media and others that social security checks continued long after a beneficiary's death.