[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 232 (Monday, December 4, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 62130]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-29474]



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


SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program (SSA/Internal 
Revenue Service (IRS))

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice of Computer Matching Program.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, this 
notice announces a computer matching program that SSA plans to conduct.

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

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may comment on this notice by either 
telefax to (410) 966-5138 or writing to the Associate Commissioner for 
Program and Integrity Reviews, 860 Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 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 above address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. General

    The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Public 
Law (Pub. L.) 100-503), amended the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) by 
establishing the conditions under which computer matching involving the 
Federal government could be performed and adding certain protections 
for individuals applying for and receiving Federal benefits. Section 
7201 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-508) 
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, or local government records. Among 
other things, it requires Federal agencies involved in computer 
matching programs to:
    (1) Negotiate written agreements with the other agency or agencies 
participating in the matching programs;
    (2) Obtain the Data Integrity Boards' approval of the match 
agreements;
    (3) Furnish detailed reports about matching programs to Congress 
and OMB;
    (4) Notify applicants and beneficiaries that their records are 
subject to matching; and
    (5) Verify match findings before reducing, suspending, terminating 
or denying an individual's benefits or payments.

B. SSA Computer Matches Subject to the Privacy Act

    We have taken action to ensure that all of SSA's computer matching 
programs comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act, as amended.

    Dated: November 21, 1995.
Shirley S. Chater,
Commissioner of Social Security.

Notice of Computer Matching Program, Social Security Administration 
(SSA) With the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

A. Participating Agencies

    SSA and IRS.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    The purpose of this matching program is to establish conditions 
under which IRS agrees to the disclosure of tax return information 
relating to unearned income. SSA will use the match results to verify 
the eligibility for, and the correct amount of benefits payable to, 
individuals under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, which 
provides payments under title XVI of the Social Security Act (the Act) 
to aged, blind and disabled recipients with income below levels 
established by law and regulations, and federally-administered 
supplementary payments under section 1616 of the Act including payments 
under section 212 of Pub.L. 93-66, 87 Stat. 152.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    Section 1631(e)(1)(b) of the Act and Section 6103(l)(7) of the 
Internal Revenue Code.

D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Match

    IRS will provide SSA with an electronic or magnetic tape file 
extracted from the Wage and Information Returns Processing File. The 
extracted file will contain tax return information about unearned 
income. Each record on the IRS file will be matched to SSA's 
Supplemental Security Income Record, HHS/SSA/OSR 90-60-0103, to 
identify individuals potentially subject to benefit reductions or 
termination of payment eligibility under the statutory provisions 
listed above.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Match

    The matching agreement for this program shall become effective no 
sooner than 40 days after a copy of the agreement, as approved by the 
Data Integrity Boards of both agencies, 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 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.

[FR Doc. 95-29474 Filed 12-1-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4190-29-P