What is the Death Master File (DMF)?

The Death Master File (DMF) is a database maintained by the United States Social Security Administration (SSA). It contains records of individuals who have died and whose deaths have been reported to the SSA. The primary purpose of the DMF is to prevent fraudulent use of Social Security numbers (SSNs) by cross-referencing deceased individuals with active accounts or benefits.

The number of deceased SSNs in the DMF can vary over time due to new deaths being reported and individuals being removed from the file. However, the DMF is a comprehensive database that includes millions of records of deceased individuals whose deaths have been reported to the Social Security Administration (SSA).

The DMF includes information such as the deceased individual's name, SSN, date of birth, date of death, and last known residence. This data is collected from various sources, including family members, funeral homes, state and local governments, and financial institutions.

The DMF is primarily used by government agencies, financial institutions, credit bureaus, and other authorized entities to verify the status of an individual's SSN and prevent identity theft or fraud. It helps organizations identify if a person is deceased and can be used to stop payments or benefits to deceased individuals, preventing misuse of their information.

Access to the DMF is restricted and regulated under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Social Security Act. Only authorized users, such as certain government agencies and financial institutions, can access the DMF for legitimate purposes, such as administering benefits, verifying identities, or preventing fraud.