[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 103 (Thursday, May 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 29179]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13858]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
States SDX/BENDEX Files, SSA Match Numbers 6001, 6002, 6004)

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Notice of computer matching program.

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

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) 966-2935, or writing to the Associate Commissioner for 
Program Support, 4400 West High Rise 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 
Support as shown above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. General

    The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 
100-503), amended the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) by establishing 
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 Data Integrity Board 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: May 15, 1997.
John J. Callahan,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security.

Notice of Computer Matching Program, States' Income Eligibility 
Verification System Records With the Social Security Administration 
(SSA)

A. Participating Agencies

    SSA and the States.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    Section 1137 of the Social Security Act (the Act) requires 
individual States to have in effect an income and eligibility 
verification system meeting certain requirements in order to administer 
certain State benefit programs.
    A chief purpose of this matching program is to facilitate 
administration of this provision. Individual agreements with the States 
will describe the conditions under which SSA and other States agree to 
disclose information to each other relating to the eligibility for, and 
payment of, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 
benefits and State-administered income, food assistance, and medical 
assistance programs described in section 1137 (b), includung tax return 
information disclosed by SSA in accordance with applicable provisions 
of the Internal Revenue Code.
    The matching program will also be used to implement provisions of 
Pub. L. 104-193, The Personal Responsibility and Work Reconciliation 
Act of 1996, involving the significance of social security coverage 
information to the eligibility of certain aliens for some Federal and 
State public benefits. Under this matching program, SSA will disclose 
certain social security coverage information on specific persons to 
States administering appropriate benefit programs.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    Sections 1106 and 1137 of the Social Security Act.
    Sections 402, 412, 421 and 435 of Pub. L. 104-193. Relevant 
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code under 26 U.S.C. 6103.

D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Matching 
Program

    States will provide SSA with names and other identifying 
information of appropriate benefit applicants or recipients. Specific 
information from participating States will be matched as provided in 
the agreement for the specific program with the following systems of 
records maintained by SSA:
    (1) SDX--Supplemental Security Income Record, SSA/OSR (09-60-0103);
    (2) BENDEX--Master Beneficiary Record (09-60-0090) and the Earnings 
Recording and Self-Employment Income System, SSA/OSR (09-60-0059);
    (3) EVS--Master Files of Social Security Number (SSN) Holders, and 
SSN Applications, SSA/OSR (09-60-0058);
    (4) QC Query--Master Earnings File (MEF), SSA/OSR 09-60-0059, and 
Master Files of SSN Holders and SSN Applications, SSA/OSR 09-60-0058.

SSA and the States will exchange information through the File Transfer 
Management System (FTMS). Cartridge or magnetic tape will be used in 
the event FTMS is inoperable.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Match

    The matching program shall become effective no sooner than 40 days 
after notice of the matching program is sent to Congress and the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB), or 30 days after publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register, whichever date is later. Individual 
State matching agreements under the program may also become effective 
upon the signature of the agreements by the parties to the agreements. 
The agreements with individual States 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. 97-13858 Filed 5-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4190-29-P