[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 96 (Friday, May 17, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35178-35179]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12366]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
States, SDX-BENDEX-SVES Files--Matches 6001, 6002, and 6004)

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice of the renewal of an existing computer matching program 
which is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2002.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as 
amended, this notice announces the renewal of an existing computer 
matching program that SSA is currently conducting with the States.

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 of the House of Representatives; and the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB). The renewal of 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 for Program Support, 2-Q-16 Operations Buildings, 640l 
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 (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. 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 Boards' approval of the match 
agreements;
    (3) Publish notice of the computer matching program in the Federal 
Register;
    (4) Furnish detailed reports about matching programs to Congress 
and OMB;
    (5) Notify applicants and beneficiaries that their records are 
subject to matching; and
    (6) 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: May 9, 2002.
Martin H. Gerry,
Deputy Commissioner for Disability and Income Security Programs.
Notice of Computer Matching Program, Social Security Administration 
(SSA) with the States

A. Participating Agencies:
    SSA and the States.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program:
    Section 1137 of the Social Security Act requires individual States 
to have in effect an income and eligibility verification system meeting 
certain requirements in order to administer certain State-administered 
income, food assistance, and medical assistance programs.
    A chief purpose of this matching program is to facilitate 
administration of this provision. Individual agreements

[[Page 35179]]

with the States will describe the conditions under which SSA agrees to 
disclose information to the States relating to the eligibility for, and 
payment of, Social Security, supplemental security income, special 
veterans benefits, including certain tax return information disclosed 
by SSA in accordance with applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue 
Code, as well as quarters of coverage, prisoner, and death information.
    The matching program will also be used to implement provisions of 
Pub. L. 104-193, the Personal Responsibility and Work Reconciliation 
Act of 1996, involving the significance of Social Security coverage 
information to the eligibility of certain aliens for some Federal and 
State public benefits. Under this matching program, SSA will disclose 
certain Social Security coverage information on specific persons to 
States administering appropriate benefit programs.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program:
    Sections 1106 and 1137 of the Social Security Act; sections 402, 
412, 421 and 435 of Pub. L. 104-193; section 202(x)(3)(B)(iv) of the 
Social Security Act; section 205(r)(3) of the Social Security Act; and 
relevant provisions of the Internal Revenue Code under 26 U.S.C. 6103.

D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Matching 
Program:
    States will provide SSA with names and other identifying 
information of appropriate benefit applicants or recipients. Specific 
information from participating States will be matched as provided in 
the agreement for the specific program with the following systems of 
records maintained by SSA:
    1. SDX--Supplemental Security Income and Special Veterans Benefit 
Record (SSR), SSA/OSR (60-0103);
    2. BENDEX--Master Beneficiary Record (MBR), SSA/OSR (60-0090) and 
the Earnings Recording and Self-Employment Income System, SSA/OSR (60-
0059);
    3. EVS--Master Files of Social Security Number (SSN) Holders and 
SSN Applications, SSA/OSR (60-0058);
    4. SVES--SSR, SSA/OSR (60-0103); MBR, SSA/OSR (60-0090); the 
Earnings Recording and Self-Employment Income System, SSA/OSR (60-
0059); the Master Files of SSN Holders and SSN Applications, SSA/OSR 
(60-0058); and the Prisoner Update Processing System (PUPS), SSA/OSR 
(60-0269);
    5. Quarters of Coverage Query--the Earnings Recording and Self-
Employment Income System, SSA/OSR (60-0059) and the Master Files of SSN 
Holders and SSN Applications, SSA/OSR (60-0058);
    6. Prisoner Query--PUPS, SSA/OSR (60-0269); and
    7. Death Query--Master Files of SSN Holders and SSN Applications, 
SSA/OSR (60-0058)--subsection referred to as the NUMIDENT.
    SSA and the States will exchange information through the File 
Transfer Management System (FTMS). Cartridge or magnetic tape will be 
used in the event FTMS is inoperable.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program:
    The matching program will become effective no sooner than 40 days 
after notice of the matching program is sent to Congress and OMB, or 30 
days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register, 
whichever is later. Individual State matching agreements under the 
program may also become effective upon the signing of the agreements by 
the parties to the agreements. The agreements with individual States 
will continue for 18 months from the effective date and may be extended 
for a period of time, up to 12 months, but not to exceed December 31, 
2004, if certain conditions are met.

[FR Doc. 02-12366 Filed 5-16-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P