The Death Information System (DIS) is a computerized system containing a comprehensive data base of information on deceased individuals. COMSERV pioneered the unique DIS concept in 1980 with a data base of approximately 23 million individuals. Since 1980, the DIS data base has substantially grown by receiving continual updates from Social Security Administration (SSA), Railroad Retirement Board, all branches of the Military, Office of Personnel Management, Federal and State Government, and many other sources. See the DIS FAQ.

In order to ensure the DIS data base is current and accurate with every possible source of death information, we request our clients who utilize the DIS provide us with any death information in addition to the data to be investigated against the DIS. We also require our clients to notify us of any errors found in the DIS so that we can make any necessary correction to further improve the integrity of the DIS. The process of exchanging death information is analogous to that of the banking and consumer credit industries where companies act as a repository for consumer credit information and charge users, such as a bank, a fee to access consumer credit information on individuals. This process works effectively because the users also provide updated consumer credit information from their files and help keep the centralized data base accurate and current. COMSERV understands the benefits of exchanging information, and this is why our DIS data base is more comprehensive and accurate than other data bases by at least 30 percent.

In addition to reporting death information, the DIS validates the social security number (SSN) to determine if the SSN falls within the current issuance range administered by the SSA. The DIS will also identify all other types of improper SSNs, based upon SSA standards, and report the state to which the SSN was assigned and SSN issuance date(s). SSN validation provides essential information at no additional cost. Please see SSN Validation or the DIS report samples for further information.

Some typical uses of DIS are as follows:

PENSION & BENEFIT PLANS - COMSERV has conducted millions of investigations of pension, annuity, workers compensation, unemployment and other benefit plan records using DIS to detect improper payments sent to deceased persons. Many plans (Retirement, Unemployment, Pension, Welfare, etc.) have a fiduciary obligation to ensure that the plans are properly managed. DIS assists plan managers in the following problem areas:

Detection of Erroneous Payments - DIS has identified many cases where payments to deceased benefit recipients have been illegally cashed by heirs or friends of the deceased recipient. In cases of benefit programs, DIS detects recipients who fraudulently file claims using the identity of a deceased person. Customer investigations based on DIS reports have uncovered unlawful pension payments and use of SSNs for virtually every customer. Some of these cases involve fraud and many years of payments to deceased recipients. Each such case typically involves many times the DIS processing fee.

Reduction of Retirement Contributions - DIS has identified vested employees who have terminated their employment and subsequently died. In each case where this occurs, the plan administrator can reduce plan contributions by thousands of dollars.

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS - Banks, savings and loan associations and credit unions are liable for money withdrawn from accounts of deceased persons. For years these financial institutions have utilized strict controls to maintain security over funds deposited and to evaluate customer credit. However, little or nothing is being done to identify when a customer has died and if the SSNs in their files are accurate.

Attempts are made to minimize this liability by such means as reviewing local obituaries, depending on family members for notification, and signature cards, but these procedures are cumbersome, costly, and not always effective. The absence of an inexpensive and effective method to detect improper SSNs and when customers have died has resulted in unnecessary legal and administrative expenses, as well as financial losses. The following are some specific examples of how DIS can be used by financial institutions.

		Social Security and Pension Checks - John Doe has a checking account at a bank. John's pension check is directly deposited to this account. John dies and his wife Jane does not inform either the bank or the Pension Plan of his death, but someone continues to withdraw funds from the account. Several years later the Pension Plan discovers that John is dead and requests full recovery from the bank. The bank pays the claim, and expends attorney time and administrative expense to recover the loss from Jane.
		Credit Cards - John applies for credit with an improper SSN or in the name of a deceased person. Normal credit bureau verification procedures do not reveal any credit history problem, or such history has been purged because the account is inactive. John is granted the loan or credit card and is never heard from again.
		Trust Accounts - A bank's trust department administers trust accounts for corporate pension plans and individual estates. It would be beneficial to both the bank and the originator of the trust account to know when someone within the trust has died.
		Loans - Jane has a loan from a bank and dies. Assets in her estate are liquidated before her death is discovered, and the bank is forced to write off the loan.
		Wills John dies and indicates in his will that he is leaving his estate to charity, and not to his wife. John's wife improperly withdraws all the money from his accounts before the bank is notified of his death. The charity files a law suit against the bank to effect recovery.

RESEARCH PROJECTS - DIS has been used to extract, sort, match and summarize death information using various criteria for medical, FDA and other Government regulations, child support, estate settlements, legal requirements, genealogy, skip tracing, and other research purposes. For example, a study by an Ivy League college had a list of Naval personnel who served on submarines. DIS was used to identify those Navy personnel who had died so that follow-up research could determine if the cause of death was related to submarine service.

MAILING LISTS - Most mailers want to prevent mailings in the name of a deceased person to the family of that person. This is negative advertising. In addition, postage costs are wasted when mail is sent to a deceased person and returned by the post office. DIS can be used to purge deceased persons from the mailing lists.

OTHER USES - DIS can be used as a tool by federal and state regulatory agencies and auditors to purge voter registration rolls; audit banks and other financial institutions; and verify that required estate tax returns have been filed. The DIS has also been instrumental in genealogy studies.

DIS HIGHLIGHTS

Largest database in the nation. The DIS data base contains millions of death records, which represents the largest file of this type in the United States. COMSERV pioneered this service in 1980 and has been collecting death information since that time from SSA, Railroad Retirement Board, all branches of the Military, Office of Personnel Management, Federal and State Government, and many other sources. This is one of the reasons why the DIS data base is larger and more accurate than any other data base by at least 30 percent. Try us one time and you will be convinced;

Continual updates. The DIS is updated on a continual basis to provide the most current information;

Prompt and efficient service. The DIS investigation is usually completed within seven (7) business days after receipt of your records. In most cases, the investigation is completed within four (4) business days;

Three (3) diverse report formats. For maximum flexibility, COMSERV offers three (3) DIS report formats from which to select. DIS reports may be printed using a customer selected report format with records being sorted in any order at no additional cost. By default, report format one (1) is used to print the DIS report with records sorted in SSN order. If this format does not meet your requirements, please inform us of your report format preference;

SSA Verified or Proof of Death Indicator. The DIS report includes the SSA death record "V"erified or "P"roof of death code. The "V" code means that the death record is verified with a family member or someone acting on behalf of the family. The "P" code means that a death certificate has been observed. SSA Disclaimer: Even though a "V" or "P" may be listed, adverse action against any individual without further verification is not recommended. If the death record was obtained from the SSA and the "V" or "P" code is available, or COMSERV has received verification or proof on a death record obtained from another source, the "V" or "P" code will be displayed in the fifth position under the Record Status report heading for DIS report formats 1 and 2. For DIS report format 3, the "V" or "P" code will be displayed next to the SSN;

SSN issuance validation. The DIS detects if the SSN falls within the current issuance ranges administered by the SSA. It will also identify all other types of improper SSNs based upon SSA standards. If DIS determines the SSN to be improper, the character "I" will be displayed in the first position under the Record Status report heading for DIS report formats 1 and 2. For DIS report format 3, the "I" will be displayed next to the SSN. The SSN issuance validation feature provides an essential secondary check at no additional cost. Please see SSN Validation for detailed information on the necessity of SSN validation;

SSN issuance information. Each DIS report displays the state where, and date range when the SSN was issued, and the age of the subject at the time the SSN was issued. This adds an additional feature in assisting our clients in their investigation of the apparent death;

Current age, and age at the time of death. Each DIS report displays the current age, and age at the time of death;

DIS investigation without the SSN. The DIS investigation can utilize the SSN, last name, first name and date of birth or the combination of these data resources. For example, the DIS investigation can be completed by simply using the name and the date of birth. The SSN is not required.

Previous match indication. If DIS determines that the SSN was previously submitted, the character "*" will be displayed in the second position under the Record Status report heading for DIS report formats 1 and 2. For DIS report format 3, the "I" will be displayed next to the SSN;

Name and date of birth difference identifier. The DIS will compare the name and date of birth in the DIS database with the name and date of birth from your files. The comparison result will produce up to twelve (12) different identifiers. These identifiers are listed below.

	1		=	The last name, first name initial, and the month and year of birth match the DIS record.
	2		=	The last name, first name initial, and the year of birth match the DIS record.
	3		=	The last name and first name initial match the DIS record. The date of birth was not provided, or does not match the DIS record.
	4		=	The last name and the month and year of birth match the DIS record.
	5		=	The last name and the year of birth match the DIS record.
	6		=	The last name only matches the DIS record.
	7		=	The first name initial and the month and year of birth match the DIS record.
	8		=	The first name initial and the year of birth match the DIS record.
	9		=	The first name initial only matches the DIS record.
	A		=	The month and year of birth match the DIS record. The last name and first name was not provided, or does not match the DIS record.
	B		=	The year of birth matches the DIS record. The last name and first name was not provided, or does not match the DIS record.
	X		=	Nothing matches. The name and date of birth was not provided, or does not match the DIS record.

The name and date of birth difference identifier will be displayed in the third position under the Record Status report heading for DIS report formats 1 and 2. For DIS report format 3, the identifier will be displayed next to the SSN;

Date of Birth and SSN Issuance Date Verification. The DIS will utilize the provided date of birth to compare this date against the highest SSN issuance date. If DIS determines that the SSN was issued prior to the provided date of birth, the character "X" will be displayed in the fourth position under the Record Status report heading for DIS report formats 1 and 2. For DIS report format 3, the "X" will be displayed next to the SSN. COMSERV recommends additional research on these types of anomalies; and

Computerized DIS investigation results. COMSERV offers the capability of computerizing the results of the DIS investigation. This would provide the capability of using these computerized results to cross-match the DIS investigation results with the data files stored on your computers, produce your own custom reports, create spreadsheets or graphs, etc.

DIS COSTS