[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 167 (Friday, August 28, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46091-46092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23136]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children 
and Families (ACF))--SSA Match Number 1074

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

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 with ACF.

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 by 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 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 approval of the match agreements by the Data 
Integrity Boards of the participating Federal Agencies;
    (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 46092]]


    Dated: August 21, 1998.
Kenneth S. Apfel,
Commissioner of Social Security.
    Notice of Computer Matching Program, Social Security Administration 
(SSA) with the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration 
for Children and Families (ACF)

A. Participating Agencies

    SSA and ACF.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    The purpose of this matching program is to establish the 
conditions, safeguards, and procedures for the disclosure to SSA by ACF 
of wage, new hire, and unemployment compensation data. ACF will 
disclose the data through a computer matching operation for SSA's use 
in establishing or verifying eligibility and payment amounts of 
individuals under the supplemental security income (SSI) program 
provisions of title XVI of the Social Security Act. Eligibility 
requirements of the SSI program allow payments only to aged, blind, and 
disabled recipients with income and resources below levels established 
by law and regulations.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    This matching operation is carried out under the authority of 
sections 453(j)(4) and 1631(e)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 653(j)(4) and 1383(e)(1)(B)).

D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Match

    SSA will compare the ACF records with individual identification 
data on SSI applicants and recipients extracted from SSA's Supplemental 
Security Income Record (SSA/OSR, 09-60-0103). The ACF records are wage, 
new hire, and unemployment compensation data records in the National 
Directory of New Hires data base which is part of the Federal Parent 
Locator and Federal Tax Refund/Administrative Offset System (DHHS/OCSE, 
09-90-0074). SSA will use information from this match to help establish 
or verify eligibility and payment amounts under the SSI program.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Match

    The agreement for this computer matching program shall become 
effective no sooner than 40 days after submission of notice of the 
program to Congress and to the Office of Management and Budget, or 30 
days from the date SSA publishes notice of the program in the Federal 
Register, or upon the signature of the matching agreement for the 
program by representatives of both parties to the agreement, whichever 
is latest. The agreement may be renewed at the end of 18 months, for a 
period of time not to exceed 12 months, if certain conditions are met.

[FR Doc. 98-23136 Filed 8-27-98; 8:45 am]
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