Video: The Limitations of the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File

Summary

In this video, I explain why the Social Security Administration’s death master file is insufficient, currently covering less than 20% of deaths in the United States due to a legislative change in 2011 that allowed states to opt out. Historically, this SSA file was comprehensive, but its coverage has dramatically decreased. Veritas’s mortality data set, however, includes SSA records and enhances them with additional sources, achieving coverage levels that exceed 90% of deaths. I encourage you to consider the implications of this data and how it may impact your work.