[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 134 (Thursday, July 12, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36610-36611]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-17106]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; Computer Matching Program 
(Social Security Administration (SSA)/Department of Housing and Urban 
Development (HUD))--Match Number 1061

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 with HUD.

DATES: HUD has filed a report of the subject matching program with the 
Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on 
Government Reform 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 Acting Associate 
Commissioner, Office of Program Support, 2-Q-16 Operations Building, 
6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401. All comments 
received will be available for public inspection at this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Acting Associate Commissioner for 
Program Support as shown above.

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 
describing the manner in which computer matching involving Federal 
agencies 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. 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 matching agreement by the Data 
Integrity Boards (DIB) 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.

    Dated: July 2, 2001.
Glenna Donnelly,
Acting Deputy Commissioner for Disability and Income Security Programs.

Notice of Computer Matching Program, Social Security Administration 
(SSA) With the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

A. Participating Agencies

    SSA and HUD.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    The purpose of this matching program is to establish conditions and 
procedures for the computer matching of HUD's tenant data to SSA's 
title II (Social Security), title XVI (supplemental security income), 
and

[[Page 36611]]

title VIII (special veterans benefits) data and to wage, self-
employment and retirement income data. The matching program will 
provide information confirming the accuracy of tenant-reported income. 
Administrators of HUD programs rely upon the accuracy of tenant-
reported income to determine applicants' and participants' eligibility 
for, and level of, rental assistance benefits. Underreported or 
overreported tenant income affects tenant eligibility, level of housing 
benefits, and HUD subsidies. The matching program will provide 
indicators of potential underreported and overreported tenant income 
that will require additional verification to identify inappropriate 
(excess or insufficient) rental assistance, and perhaps administrative 
or legal actions.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    Section 1106 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1306); 42 U.S.C. 
3544(b) and (c)(2)(A)(ii); and 26 U.S.C. 6103(1)(7)(D)(ix).

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

    HUD will provide information to SSA from its system of records 
entitled Tenant Housing Assistance and Contract Verification Data. This 
system of records includes two automated systems know as the 
multifamily Tenant Characteristics System and the Tenant Rental 
Assistance Certification System. Each record on the HUD file will be 
matched to SSA's Master Files of SSN Holders and SSN Applications, 
SSA's Earnings Recording and Self-Employment Income System, SSA's 
Master Beneficiary Record; and SSA's Supplemental Security Income and 
Special Veterans Benefits Record for the purposes described above in 
Section B.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program

    The matching program shall become effective upon the signing of the 
agreement by both parties to the agreement and approval of the 
agreement by the Data Integrity Boards of the respective agencies, but 
no sooner than 40 days after notice of this matching 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 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. 01-17106 Filed 7-11-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-U