Beyond the DMF: How CertiDeath® Helps Pension Plans and Insurers Strengthen Death Audits – Webinar Recap and Transcript
In recent months, unexplained shifts in the SSA Death Master File (DMF) have raised new concerns about accuracy and reliability. For administrators safeguarding participant benefits, and for insurers ensuring claims integrity, staying ahead of these changes is essential. In a 30-minute webinar we shared exclusive insights into what we’ve been tracking in the DMF, and […]
Another Wave of Changes Hits the SSA Death Master File
We recently uncovered another shift in the Social Security Administration’s Limited Access Death Master File (LADMF). With 35 years of specialized experience in utilizing and analyzing the Death Master File (DMF), Berwyn has developed unmatched expertise in quickly identifying even the subtlest patterns and anomalies. The most recent change is the latest in a series […]
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 […]
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, […]
We find over 96% of deaths. Here’s the proof.
It seems more and more death matching services are making claims about how many deaths they find while presenting nothing to back up their numbers. At Berwyn, we do an analysis every year to make sure our CertiDeath® claims are current and verified. In fact, our most recent analysis revealed an increase in the percentage […]
Your Guide to Choosing a Death Audit Vendor
The continuing degradation of the Social Security Administration’s Limited Access Death Master File (DMF) makes the choice of a death audit vendor increasingly important. What are the essential aspects to consider in this selection? What important questions should you ask potential vendors? To assist you in this important decision-making process, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide. […]
Death Audit vs. Death Data
The decline of data accessible via the Social Security Administration Death Master File (DMF) in 2011 redefined the Death Audit category. With this change, Death Audit providers became Death Data providers. This shift added complexities to death identification resulting in a significant number of missed deaths and associated overpayments amongst population groups monitored for decedents, […]
How the demise of the Death Master File is a problem and an opportunity for insurance companies
More and more, insurance companies who rely primarily on the SSA Limited Access Death Master File (DMF) are missing huge numbers of unreported deceased policyholders. In fact, our Mortality Analyses we perform for prospective clients often reveal thousands of missed deaths. It’s not the fault of insurance companies. For decades the Social Security Administration’s Death […]