Department of Health Death Notices

Clicking the PA Department of Health - Death Notices link on the Dashboard opens the Death Notice Search screen. The screen can be used to search death notice records provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Obtaining death information on case participants is useful when managing your cases. Death notices are updated in GTS on a monthly basis.

Keep in mind that this function should be used as one tool in researching death records for GTS case participants and it is not meant to replace the normal processes of confirming that a participant has passed away.

Searching for Death Notice Records

The death notices search uses person criteria only. To search, perform the following:

1. 

Enter criteria for the search. If using SSN, this is the only required criteria. Since the person's social security number may not be available or recorded with the Department of Health, you may wish to use other criteria for searching. If not using SSN, criteria must be entered in two of the following fields: Last Name, Date of Birth, Date of Death, or County of Death. The Last Name field requires a single character, minimally. When entering the Date of Birth or Date of Death, you must enter the date as a range. To search for a single day, enter the same date in both fields for the range.

2. 

After entering criteria, click the SEARCH button.

3. 

Records matching the search are returned in a grid. Review the search results and perform one of the following:

a. 

If the person being researched is found, review the details on the screen as needed.

b. 

If the person being researched is not found, you may try changing or removing some of the criteria used and search again. Sometimes using less search criteria can be more effective.

c. 

To being a new search, you may click the CLEAR button to being entering criteria again.

4. 

When you have finished reviewing death notices, click the CLOSE button to return to the Dashboard.