[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 5, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10032-10033]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-5133]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
Department of Veterans Affairs, Compensation and Pension Service) Match 
1008

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

[[Page 10033]]

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 Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on 
Government Operations 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) 966-5138, or writing to the Acting Associate 
Commissioner for Program Support, 2-Q-16 Operations 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 describing the 
manner in which computer matching involving records of 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 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 computers matching 
programs comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act, as amended.

    Dated: February 25, 2002.
Frederick G. Strekewald,
Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Disability, and Income Security 
Programs.

Notice of Computer Matching Program, Department of Veteran Affairs 
(VA) With Social Security Administration (SSA).

A. Participating Agencies

    SSA and VA.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    To identify certain Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Special 
Veterans Benefit (SVB) recipients under title XVI and title VIII of the 
Social Security Act (``Act'') respectively, who receive VA-administered 
benefits, and to update their SSI/SVB records to reflect the presence 
of such payments. To determine under section 1144 of the Act, potential 
eligibility for Medicare Savings Programs (MSP) and enable SSA, in 
turn, to identify these individuals to the States.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Programs

    The legal authority for SSA to conduct this matching activity is 
contained in sections 1631(e)(1)(B) and 1631(f) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 
1383(e)(1)(B) and 1383(f) (SSI), section 806(b) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 
1006(b)(SVB) and section 1144 of the Act, 42 U.S.C 1320b-14.

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

    The VA will provide SSA with electronic files containing 
compensation and pension data from its system of records entitled 
Compensation and Pension, Education and Rehabilitation Records--VA 
(58VA21/22). SSA will then match VA's data with SSI/SVB payment 
information maintained in the SSR SSA/OSR 60-0103.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Match

    The matching program shall become effective 40 days after notice of 
this matching program is sent to Congress and OMB or 30 days after 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register, whichever date 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. 02-5133 Filed 3-4-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P