[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 7, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13814]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 7, 1994]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Social Security Administration

 

Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Programs: SSA and the 
Department of Education

AGENCY: Social Security Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of Computer Matching Programs to comply with Public Law 
(Pub. L.) 100-503, the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 
1988.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces a computer matching program that SSA 
will conduct that is subject to the requirements of Pub. L. 100-503. 
The purpose of this publication is to meet the publication requirements 
of Pub. L. 100-503.

DATES: We will file a report of the subject SSA matching program with 
the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on 
Government Operations of the House of Representatives and the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. 
The matching program will be effective as indicated below.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may comment on this notice by writing to 
the Associate Commissioner for Program and Integrity Reviews, 860 
Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235. 
All comments received will be available for public inspection at this 
address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Associate Commissioner for Program 
and Integrity Reviews at the address above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. General

    Pub. L. 100-503, the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act 
of 1988, amended the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) by adding certain 
protections for individuals applying for and receiving Federal 
benefits. Section 7201 of Pub. L. 101-508, the Computer Matching and 
Privacy Protection Amendments of 1990, further amended the Privacy Act 
regarding protections for such individuals. The Privacy Act, as 
amended, regulates the use of computer matching by Federal agencies 
when records in a system of records are matched with other Federal, 
State, and local government records. It requires Federal agencies 
involved in computer matching programs to:
    (1) Negotiate written agreements with the other agency or agencies 
participating in the match;
    (2) Notify applicants and beneficiaries that their records are 
subject to matching;
    (3) Verify match findings before reducing, suspending, terminating, 
or denying an individual's benefits or payments;
    (4) Furnish detailed reports about matching programs to Congress 
and the Office of Management and Budget; and
    (5) Establish a Data Integrity Board that must approve match 
agreements.

B. SSA Computer Matches Subject to Pub. L. 100-503

    We have taken action to ensure that all of SSA's computer matching 
programs comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act, as amended. 
Below is a brief description followed by a detailed notice of a match 
that SSA will be conducting as of April 1994 or later.

SSA Matching With Department of Education (ED)

    Purpose: To ensure that the requirements of title IV, section 
484(q), of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) are met. Computerized 
access to SSA master files of Social Security number (SSN) holders 
enables ED to ensure that the SSN of an applicant for assistance under 
title IV of the HEA is valid at the time of the application. Applicant 
records will be matched against SSA's Numident Index Record File.

    Dated: May 26, 1994.
Shirley S. Chater,
Commissioner of Social Security.

Notice of Computer Matching Program, Social Security Administration 
(SSA) Numident Index Record File Matching With the Department of 
Education (ED)

A. Participating Agencies

    SSA and ED.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    Section 484(q) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), requires 
ED to verify the Social Security numbers (SSNs) of applicants for 
assistance under title IV of that Act.
    The purpose of this matching program is to enable ED to verify 
applicants SSNs.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    Section 484(q) of the HEA; Section 1106(a) of the Social Security 
Act.

D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Match

    ED will submit for validation SSNs and other identifying 
information for applicants for assistance from its Central Processing 
Systems files. The SSA Numident contains the SSN and identifying 
information for all SSN holders.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Match

    The matching program shall become effective 40 days after a copy of 
the agreement, as approved by the Data Integrity Boards, is sent to 
Congress and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) (or later if OMB 
objects to some or all of the agreement), or 30 days after publication 
of this notice in the Federal Register, whichever date is later. The 
matching program will continue for 18 months from the effective date 
and may be extended for an additional 12 months thereafter, if certain 
conditions are met.

F. Address for Receipt of Public Comments or Inquiries

    Individuals wishing to comment on this matching program should 
submit comments to the Associate Commissioner for Program and Integrity 
Reviews, 860 Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, 
Maryland 21235.

[FR Doc. 94-13814 Filed 6-6-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4190-29-M