According to this story, some companies use the Social Security death file as a source to make sure that they are not continuing annuity payments, but for determining that life insurance payments need to be made, not so much.

FORBES: Unfair Tax Court Decisions On Life Insurance Are Tip Of Unclaimed Property Iceberg

Knowing a person's state and place of birth, Acquisti would use the death master file to find the numbers of people with nearby birth dates in the same state.

CNN: Social Security number study raises fears

In one decision, the court allowed death row inmates to file last-minute challenges to lethal injection.

NPR: High Court Allows Lethal-Injection Challenges