[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 194 (Friday, October 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51087-51088]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24990]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; Computer Matching Program Social 
Security Administration (SSA) and Immigration and Naturalization 
Service (INS)

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.

DATES: SSA will file a report of the subject matching program with the 
Committee on Government 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) 597-0841, or writing to the Associate Commissioner for 
Program Support, 2-Q-16 Operations Bldg, 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 1998 (Pub. L. 
100-503), amended the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) by describing the 
manner in

[[Page 51088]]

which computer matching involving records of Federal and State 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. 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 Data Integrity Board's 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: September 28, 2001.
Glenna Donnelly,
Acting Deputy Commissioner for Disability and Income Security Programs.

Notice of Computer Matching Program, Social Security Administration 
(SSA) with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)

Participating Agencies

    SSA and INS.

Purpose of the Matching Program

    The purpose of this matching program is to establish conditions 
under which INS agrees to the disclosure of information regarding 
certain aliens who may, as a result of their current and planned 
absences from the United States, be subject to nonpayment of benefits 
in programs administered by SSA. The disclosure will provide SSA with 
information useful in determining claim and benefit status under both 
title II and title XVI of the Social Security Act governing Social 
Security Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance benefits, and 
Supplemental Security Income, as certain persons who are outside the 
United States or similarly lack appropriate statutorily specified 
residency and citizenship/alienage status, may not be paid benefits 
under specific statutory provisions of those titles.

Authority for Conducting the Match:

    This matching operation is carried out under the authority of 
sections 202(n), 1611(f), 1614(a)(1), 1631(e)(1)(B) of the Social 
Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 402(n), 1382(f), 1382c(a)(1), 1383(e)(1)(B), 
1383(f) and 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1611 and 1612; and section 237(a) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act.

Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by The March:

    INS will disclose to SSA two data files as described below:
1. Aliens Who Leave the United States Voluntarily
    INS data on aliens leaving the United States voluntarily from INS's 
computer linked information management system will be matched with 
SSA's Master Files of Social Security Number Holders and SSN 
Applications (Numident Alpha-Index) (SSA/OSR 60 0058). SSA will next 
match records of persons whose SSNs are verified against SSA's SSR 
system, (SSA OSR 60-0103), in order to identify aliens potentially 
subject to suspension of SSI monthly SSI benefit payments under title 
XVI of the Act due to absence from the United States of 30 consecutive 
days or more.
2. Aliens Who Are Deported From the United States
    INS will provide SSA with a file drawn from the INS Deportable 
Alien Control System (DACS) including the SSNs (if available) of aliens 
who have been deported from the United States under specified 
provisions as described in 202(n)(1) of the Social Security Act, and 
who, therefore, may be subject to nonpayment of social security 
benefits under title II of the Social Security Act (in some instances 
along with their dependents or survivors who are outside of the United 
States.) This deportee file will also contain records of individuals 
who may be ineligible for SSI benefits under title XVI of the Social 
Security Act as a result of their status as deportees given certain 
residency and/or alien citizenship requirements for eligibility 
regarding that title. SSA will match the records provided by INS 
against SSA's Master Files of Social Security Numbers and SSN 
Applications (SSA/OSR 60-0058); the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR) 
(SSA/OSR 60-0090); and the SSR (SSA/OSR 60-0103).

Inclusive Dates of the Match:

    The matching agreement for this 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 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. 01-24990 Filed 10-4-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-M