GN 02602.070 Identifying and Resolving Death Alerts

Citations: Social Security Act §§ 205(a),(r)

A. Background

A death alert is generated when we receive a report of death or an individual’s benefit or payment (“payment record”) record(s) is incomplete and action is required. Alerts are generated and displayed on the Death Alerts Tracking System (DATS). We define alerts in GN 02602.065.

We must resolve issues identified on the alert for the following reasons:

•

Reduce improper payments;

•

Remove personally identifiable information from the Death Master File if an individual is alive;

•

Allow proper posting of earnings.

B. Identifying types of alerts and action required

The following table provides alert types and necessary actions required to clear the alert:

DATS Alert Type	Code	Action(s) to Clear the Alert	Listing Updated
Death Information Processing System (DIPS)
Third-party death verification required for beneficiary	AD	• Obtain verification per GN 02602.070C and manually clear the alert; or • System automatically clears the alert when death posts to the Numident.	Daily
State agency, other than the State Bureau of Vital Statistics	BX
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services	CM
Department of Veterans Affairs	VA
Office of Personnel Management	OP
Name does not match	DN	• Obtain verification per GN 02602.070C and manually clear the alert.	Daily
DIPS not used	DX	• Enter death information in DIPS. • No further action is required.	Daily
Numident (NUMI)
Death is on the Numident, but not on the payment record(s).	(none)	• for actions on these alerts followGN 02602.070D . • Once all outstanding discrepancies between the Numident and payment record(s) are resolved, the Numident death alert automatically drops off the listing following the run.	Last weekend of the month

C. Resolving DIPS alerts

Before taking any actions to resolve a DIPS death alert, you must determine if the alert is the result of an initial death report or if development is pending. To make this determination, you must review all SSA records and queries. To determine how to resolve the alert use the table below.

If…	Then…
Proof or first-party verification of death is located see GN 02602.050).	Process the death via DIPS.
Death development is not pending.	Initiate contact with the alleged decedent or a first-party reporter per GN 02602.050. If contact is made, the contacted individual must be able to verify the alleged decedent is alive or deceased. • If you contact the alleged decedent and verify they are alive, document remarks on the DATS alert and clear the alert by selecting “erroneous report of death”. • If the contacted individual is a first-party reporter and verifies the alleged decedent is deceased, input the death via DIPS. • If the contacted individual is not the alleged decedent, not a first-party reporter, or you are unable to make initial contact, send a come-in/call-in letter (SSA‑2708) and set a 45-day diary.
Death development is pending.	After 45 days from the date of the come-in/call-in letter has passed and the alleged decedent has not contacted SSA or proof or first-party verification of death has not been received, consider the person deceased and input the “Alleged DOD” from DATS via DIPS by selecting “Non-Responder on death development”.

If…

Then…

Proof or first-party verification of death is located see GN 02602.050).

Process the death via DIPS.

Death development is not pending.

Initiate contact with the alleged decedent or a first-party reporter per GN 02602.050. If contact is made, the contacted individual must be able to verify the alleged decedent is alive or deceased.

•

If you contact the alleged decedent and verify they are alive, document remarks on the DATS alert and clear the alert by selecting “erroneous report of death”.

•

If the contacted individual is a first-party reporter and verifies the alleged decedent is deceased, input the death via DIPS.

•

If the contacted individual is not the alleged decedent, not a first-party reporter, or you are unable to make initial contact, send a come-in/call-in letter (SSA‑2708) and set a 45-day diary.

Death development is pending.

After 45 days from the date of the come-in/call-in letter has passed and the alleged decedent has not contacted SSA or proof or first-party verification of death has not been received, consider the person deceased and input the “Alleged DOD” from DATS via DIPS by selecting “Non-Responder on death development”.

D. Resolving NUMI Alerts

Before taking any actions to resolve a NUMI death alert, you must determine if the Numident or payment record(s) is incorrect. To make this determination, you must review all SSA records and queries.

Once you have determined which record(s) is incorrect, use the table below to determine how to resolve the alert.

NOTE: If Entry code (ETC): D = Death claim (filed before 3/72) shows on the Numident, see RM 10220.415.

If…	Then…
You determine death is correctly posted to the Numident but not on the payment record(s).	Determine if a termination action is pending. • If no transaction is pending, input the death to the appropriate payment record(s). • If a transaction is pending, suspend the payment record(s) pending death development.
You determine the individual is alive and the payment record is correct but death was not removed from the Numident.	Remove death from the Numident following GN 02602.055 and GN 02602.056.
You determine both the Numident and payment record(s) are correct.	No action required. NOTE: If an input, systems update, or record correction is completed after the last weekend of the month, the alert will remain in DATS until the next month’s run.

If…

Then…

You determine death is correctly posted to the Numident but not on the payment record(s).

Determine if a termination action is pending.

•

If no transaction is pending, input the death to the appropriate payment record(s).

•

If a transaction is pending, suspend the payment record(s) pending death development.

You determine the individual is alive and the payment record is correct but death was not removed from the Numident.

Remove death from the Numident following GN 02602.055 and GN 02602.056.

You determine both the Numident and payment record(s) are correct.

No action required.
NOTE: If an input, systems update, or record correction is completed after the last weekend of the month, the alert will remain in DATS until the next month’s run.

E. References

•

GN 02602.050 Reports of Death
•

GN 02602.051 Processing Reports of Death Using the Death Processing System (DIPS)
•

GN 02602.055 If an Individual Deceased on SSA Records is Alive
•

GN 02602.056 Procedure to Correct an Incorrect Death Record
•

GN 02602.065 Types of Death Alerts

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GN 02602.070 - Identifying and Resolving Death Alerts - 09/15/2026
Batch run: 09/15/2026
Rev:09/15/2026

Program Operations Manual System (POMS)