[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 41 (Monday, March 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9477-9478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5141]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

Privacy Act 1974; Computer Matching Program (Agreement for SSA/
Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Match of Prisoner Data, Match #1041)

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Notice of Computer Matching Program.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as 
amended, 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 
facsimile to (410) 966-4337 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 protection for 
individuals applying for or receiving Federal benefits. Section 7201 of 
the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-508) further 
amended the Privacy Act regarding protection 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. 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.


[[Page 9478]]


    Dated: February 21, 1997.
Shirley S. Chater,
Commissioner of Social Security.

Notice of Computer Matching Program, Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) 
Data Systems With SSA

A. Participating Agencies

    SSA and BOP.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    Section 202(x)(1) of the Social Security Act (the Act), 42 U.S.C. 
402(x)(1), prohibits SSA from paying old-age, survivors, and disability 
insurance benefits to certain confined persons, including certain 
prisoners under title II of the Act. Section 1611(e)(1)(A) of the Act, 
42 U.S.C. 382(e)(1)(A), provides, with some exceptions, that inmates in 
public institutions are not eligible for payments in the Supplemental 
Security Income (SSI) program under title XVI of the Act. Sections 
205(j)(1)(A), 205(j)(5), 1631(a)(2)(A)(iii) and 1631(a)(2)(E), 42 
U.S.C., 405(j)(1)(A), 405(j)(5), 1383(g)(2)(A)(iii) and 1383(a)(2)(E) 
require SSA to revoke certification for payment of benefits to 
representative payees under certain circumstances and to investigate 
and monitor the performance of representative payees. The incarceration 
or confinement of a representative payee is a circumstance highly 
relevant to SSA's consideration of an individual's representative payee 
status under these provisions. The purpose of this matching program is 
to assist SSA in enforcing all of the above-referenced provisions of 
the Act.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    Section 202(x)(1), 202(x)(3), 205(j)(1)(A), 205(j)(5), 
1611(e)(1)(A), and 1631(a)(2)(A)(iii) and 1631(a)(2)(E) of the Act.

D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Match

    The Federal Bureau of Prisons will submit names and other 
identifying information of prisoners from its prisoner data systems. 
The SSA Master Files of Social Security number (SSN) holders and SSN 
applications contain the SSNs and identifying information for all SSN 
holders. The SSA Master Beneficiary Record and Supplemental Security 
Income Record contains beneficiary and payment information. The Master 
Representative Payee File contains representative payee information. 
SSA will match data from these record systems with BOP data as a first 
step in detecting certain individuals who should not be receiving 
Social Security or SSI benefits, either for themselves, or on behalf of 
others.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Match

    This matching program shall become effective no sooner than 40 days 
after notice of the program is sent to Congress and the Office of 
Management and Budget, 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.

[FR Doc. 97-5141 Filed 2-28-97; 8:45 am]
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