[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 151 (Monday, August 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41008-41009]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19591]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Defense Logistics Agency


Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program

AGENCY: Defense Manpower Data Center, Defense Logistics Agency, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of a computer matching program.

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SUMMARY: Subsection (e)(12) of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 
U.S.C. 552a), requires agencies to publish advanced notice of any 
proposed or revised computer matching program by the matching agency 
for public comment. The Department of Defense (DoD) as the matching 
agency under the Privacy Act, is hereby giving notice to the record 
subjects of a computer matching program between Social Security 
Administration (SSA) and the DoD that their records are being matched 
by computer.
    The Social Security Act requires SSA to verify, with independent or 
collateral sources, information provided to SSA by recipients of SSI 
payments and beneficiaries of SVB benefits. The SSI and SVB recipient/
beneficiary provides information about eligibility/entitlement factors 
and other relevant information. SSA obtains additional information as 
necessary before making any determinations of eligibility/payment or 
entitlement/benefit amounts or adjustments thereto. With respect to 
military retirement payments to SSI recipients and SVB beneficiaries 
who are retired members of the Uniformed Services or their survivors, 
SSA proposes to accomplish this task by computer matching with the DoD.

DATES: This proposed action will become effective September 5, 2001, 
and matching may commence unless changes to the matching program are 
required due to public comments or by Congressional or by Office of 
Management and Budget objections. Any public comment must be received 
before the effective date.

ADDRESSES: Any interested party may submit written comments to the 
Director, Defense Privacy Office, 1941 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 
920, Arlington, VA 22202-4502.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Vahan Moushegian, Jr. at (703) 
607-2943.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to subsection (o) of the Privacy 
Act of 1974, as amended, (5 U.S.C. 552a), the Defense Manpower Data 
Center (DMDC) and SSA have concluded an agreement to conduct a computer 
matching program.
    The parties to this agreement have determined that a computer 
matching program is the efficient, expeditious, and effective means of 
obtaining and processing the information needed by the SSA under the 
Social Security Act to verify the eligibility/entitlement of, and to 
verify payment and benefit amounts for, certain SSI and SVB recipients/
beneficiaries. Computer matching also will produce the required data to 
calculate and make any necessary adjustments of SSI payments and SVB 
benefits. The principal alternative to using a computer matching 
program would be to conduct a manual comparison of DoD payment records 
with a list of SSI and SVB recipients/beneficiaries. Conducting such a 
manual match would clearly impose a considerable administrative burden, 
constitute a greater intrusion on the individual's privacy, and would 
result in additional delay in the eventual SSI payment and SVB benefit 
or recovery of unauthorized or erroneous payments/benefits. Using the 
computer matching program, the information exchange between the parties 
can be accomplished within 30 days.
    A copy of the computer matching agreement between SSA and DoD is 
available upon request. Requests should be submitted to the address 
caption above or to the Information Exchange and Matching Staff, Office 
of Disclosure Policy, Office of Program Support, Office of Disability 
and Income Security Programs, Social Security Administration, 6401 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235.
    Set forth below is the notice of the establishment of a computer 
matching program required by paragraph 6.c. of the Office of Management 
and Budget Guidelines on computer matching published on June 19, 1989, 
at 54 FR 2518.
    The matching agreement, as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(r) of the 
Privacy Act, and an advance copy of this notice was submitted on July 
26, 2001, to the House Committee on Government Reform, the Senate 
Committee on Governmental Affairs, and the Administrator of the Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget 
pursuant to paragraph 4d of Appendix I to OMB Circular No. A-130, 
`Federal Agency Responsibilities for Maintaining Records about 
Individuals,' dated February 8, 1996 (February 20, 1996, 61 FR 6427).

    Dated: July 30, 2001.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Office, Department of Defense.
COMPUTER MATCHING PROGRAM BETWEEN THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR VERIFICATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY 
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME PAYMENTS AND SPECIAL VETERANS BENEFITS

A. Participating agencies:
    Partipants in this computer matching program are the Social 
Security Administration (SSA) and the Defense Manpower Data Center 
(DMDC) of the Department of Defense (DoD). The SSA is the source 
agency, i.e., the activity disclosing the records for the purpose of 
the match. The DMDC is the specific recipient activity or matching 
agency, i.e., the agency that actually performs the computer matching.

B. Purpose of the Match:
    The Social Security Act requires SSA to verify, with independent or 
collateral sources, information provided to SSA by recipients of SSI 
payments and beneficiaries of SVB benefits. The SSI and SVB recipient/
beneficiaries provides information about eligibility/entitlement 
factors and other relevant information. SSA obtains additional 
information as necessary before making any determinations of 
eligibility/payment or entitlement/benefit amounts or adjustments 
thereto. With respect to military retirement payments to SSI recipients 
and SVB beneficiaries who are retired members of the Uniformed Services 
or their survivors, SSA proposes to accomplish this task by computer 
matching with the DOD.

C. Authority for Conducting the Match:
    The legal authority for the matching program is contained in 
sections 1631(e)(1)(B) and (f) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1383(e)(1)(B) and (f)) and 42 U.S.C. 1001-1013.

D. Records to be Matched:
    The systems of records maintained by the respective agencies under 
the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, from which records will be 
disclosed for the purpose of this computer match are as follows:

[[Page 41009]]

    1. The SSA will use 60-0103, entitled `Supplemental Security Income 
Record and Special Veterans Benefits', last published on February 21, 
2001 at 66 FR 11080.
    2. The DMDC will use S322.10 DMDC, entitled `Defense Manpower Data 
Center Data Base', last published on May 31, 2001 at 66 FR 29552.

E. Description of Computer Matching Program:
    SSA, as the source agency, will provide DMDC with an electronic 
file which contains the data elements. Upon receipt of the electronic 
file, DMDC, as the recipient agency, will perform a computer match 
using all nine digits of the SSN of the SSI/SVB file against a DMDC 
database which contains the data elements. The DMDC database consists 
of extracts of personnel and pay records of retired members of the 
uniformed services or their survivors. The ``hits'' or matches will be 
furnished to SSA. SSA is responsible for verifying and determining that 
the data on the DMDC electronic reply file are consistent with the SSA 
source file and resolving any discrepancies or inconsistencies on an 
individual basis. SSA will also be responsible for making final 
determinations as to eligibility for /entitlement to, or amount of 
payments/benefits, their continuation or needed adjustments, or any 
recovery of overpayments as a result of the match. The DMDC database 
consists of extracts of personnel and pay records of retired members of 
the uniformed services or their survivors.
    1. The electronic SSA query file contains approximately 6.5 million 
records extracted from the Supplemental Security Income Record.
    2. The electronic DMDC database contains records on approximately 
2.15 million retired uniformed service members or their survivors.

F. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program:
    This computer matching program is subject to public comment and 
review by Congress and the Office of Management and Budget. If the 
mandatory 30 day period for comment has expired and no comments are 
received and if no objections are raised by either Congress. The Office 
of Management and Budget within 40 days of being notified of the 
proposed match, the computer matching program becomes effective and the 
respective agencies may begin the exchange at a mutually agreeable time 
on a quarterly basis, shifting to a monthly basis when and if the 
computer system work can be completed to effectuate the increased 
frequency. By agreement between SSA and DMDC, the matching program will 
be in effect for 18 months with an option to renew for 12 additional 
months unless one of the parties to the agreement advises the other by 
written request to terminate or modify the agreement.

G. Address for Receipt of Public Comments or Inquiries:
    Director, Defense Privacy Office, 1941 Jefferson Davis Highway, 
Suite 920, Arlington, VA 22202-4502. Telephone (703) 607-2943.
[FR Doc. 01-19591 Filed 8-3-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-08-M