Case Study: Looking Beyond Standard Sources
The Curveball During a routine death validation, one record stood out. The individual had several potential matches and incomplete data, with no confirmed date of death available through standard sources. While reviewing the obituary, the Berwyn Team of Experts spotted a comment mentioning the individual’s connection to Major League Baseball. Digging In This clue led […]
The Berwyn Group Appoints Adam Wilson as General Manager of Healthcare
Veteran Leader Brings Deep Industry Expertise to Advance Berwyn’s Healthcare Strategy [Independence, Ohio, June 13, 2025] — The Berwyn Group (Berwyn), the leader in death audit, locate services and population management, is pleased to announce the hiring of Adam Wilson as General Manager of Healthcare. Wilson brings extensive healthcare industry experience that will further strengthen […]
SSA Reverses Course on April DMF Additions
The Social Security Administration (SSA) appears to have reversed a substantial and unprecedented addition of records to the Death Master File (DMF), highlighting the importance of expert interpretation in managing and understanding government datasets. Looking Back: DMF Experienced Significant Increase in April 2025 In early April 2025, the DMF saw an abnormal spike in newly […]
Case Study: How a Harley and a Hunch Solved an Identity Mystery
The Clue During a death validation review, our team encountered an obituary featuring a photo of the decedent on a Harley-Davidson. While the death record itself was plausible, we needed additional confirmation to confidently tie it to the correct individual—especially given multiple similar name matches. The Trail The photo led us to search vehicle registration […]
Case Study: When Twins Confuse the Data and How Human Validation Prevents Costly Errors
Background At The Berwyn Group, we often encounter near-identical records that challenge even the most sophisticated death audit processes. One recurring challenge is distinguishing between twins who share not only birthdates, but also strikingly similar names and life histories. Recently, our team encountered several such cases where death records initially appeared to match living individuals. […]
How to Compare Death Audit Service Providers
At first glance death audit service providers seem similar, but there are crucial differences that can significantly impact the integrity of your data, the longevity of your plan, and the delivery of life-saving benefits to participants and their families. Choosing the wrong provider doesn’t just risk inefficiencies—it can directly affect people’s lives. Why Do Death […]
What You Need to Know About Changes to the DMF
The Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Limited Access Death Master File (DMF) has undergone significant changes over the past month. These developments highlight the continued degradation of the DMF’s data quality. Once a reliable source, the DMF now reflects only 16% of actual decedents – a sharp decline over the past 14 years. Adding to the shift, […]
Death Audit Compliance: How Insurance Professionals Can Stay Ahead of Evolving Regulations
Insurance professionals are all too familiar with the investigations and lawsuits targeting the industry. State insurance departments and other regulators have intensified their audits of insurers to ensure proper identification of deceased policyholders and timely benefit disbursement. Non-compliance with both RSAs (Regulatory Settlement Agreements) and GRAs (Global Regulatory Agreements) can result in substantial financial penalties […]
CertiDeath Paragon Introduction: Death Audits Without the Risk – Webinar Recap
The Berwyn Group isn’t just participating in the death audit industry’s evolution – we are leading it. We are thrilled to release a new death audit solution that redefines the way organizations identify decedents with CertiDeath® Paragon™. During a March 2025 webinar, we discussed how CertiDeath Paragon significantly reduces or eliminates the need to transfer […]
Retiree Data Accuracy in the Spotlight: Addressing Challenges and Enhancing Efficiency
Recent discussions about data accuracy in retirement systems have captured widespread attention, bringing renewed focus to the broader issue of maintaining up-to-date retiree records. The challenge of managing participant data and keeping records accurate is a very real concern. With over 30 years of assisting plans in managing their participant records, we at The […]