Effective Dates: 01/06/2017 - Present Previous | Next

TN 3 (01-17)

GN 03315.015 Disclosure of Volume Death Records

A. The Death Master File (DMF)

SSA maintains the Death Master File (DMF), which includes deaths reported to SSA from various sources. We provide this information to the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Technical Information Service (NTIS). NTIS sells this information to the public. However, State death information is not included in the publicly-available DMF since this information is restricted from disclosure.

B. Public and government requests for the Death Master File

1. Public requests

Members of the public and public entities may purchase the DMF through NTIS. Detailed information about the DMF products and related requirements for purchasing this information is available at https://dmf.ntis.gov/.

2. Government requests

We may provide Federal and State agencies that pay federally-funded benefits with a version of the DMF that contains all the death information in our records, including death information we receive from the States. This is because the purpose that they want to use the DMF for is consistent with the requirements of section 205(r) of the Social Security Act.

Agencies permitted to purchase the DMF from SSA may choose to receive the data electronically. Agencies interested in entering into a data exchange with SSA to receive the full DMF, should complete the data exchange request form (SSA-157) and email it to ORDP.Data.Exchange@ssa.gov.

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0203315015
GN 03315.015 - Disclosure of Volume Death Records - 01/06/2017
Batch run: 01/09/2017
Rev:01/06/2017