[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 20, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 70116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-29374]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of Computer Matching Program.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. section 552a, the Privacy Act of 1974, as 
amended, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines on 
the Conduct of Matching Programs, notice is hereby given that the 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) intends to conduct a computer 
matching program with the Social Security Administration (SSA). Data 
from the proposed match will be utilized to verify the earned income 
(i.e., wages, income from self employment, etc.) of nonservice-
connected veterans, and those veterans who are zero percent service-
connected (noncompensable), whose eligibility for VA medical care is 
based on their inability to defray the cost of medical care. These 
veterans supply household income information that includes their 
spouses and dependents at the time of application for VA health care 
benefits.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This match will start no sooner than 30 days after 
publication in the Federal Register, unless comments dictate otherwise.

ADDRESSES: Interested individuals may submit written comments to the 
Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of 
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Room 1154, Washington, DC 
20420. All written comments will be available for public inspection at 
the above address in the Office of Regulations Management, Room 1158, 
between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen E. Watkins, Assistant 
Director, Income Verification Division, Health Eligibility Center, 
(404) 235-1340.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Veterans Affairs has a 
statutory authorization under 38 U.S.C. 5317, 38 U.S.C. 5106 and 5 
U.S.C. 552a to establish matching agreements and request and use income 
information from other agencies for purposes of verification of income 
for determining eligibility for benefits. 38 U.S.C. 1710 (a)(2) (G), 
identifies those veterans whose basic eligibility for medical care 
benefits is dependent upon their financial status. Eligibility for 
nonservice-connected and zero percent noncompensable service-connected 
veterans is determined based on the veteran's inability to defray the 
expenses for necessary care as defined in 38 U.S.C. 1722. This 
determination can impact their responsibility to participate in the 
cost of their care through copayments and their assignment to an 
enrollment priority group.
    The goal of this match is to obtain SSA earnings data needed for 
the income verification process. The VA records involved in the match 
are ``Healthcare Eligibility Records'' (89VA19). The SSA records are 
from the Earnings Recording and Self-Employment Income System, SSA/OSR 
09-0-059. A copy of this notice has been sent to both Houses of 
Congress and OMB.
    This matching agreement expires September 30, 2003. The agreement 
may be extended by the involved Data Integrity Boards (DIBs) for an 
additional twelve month period provided all agencies involved certify 
to the DIBs, within three months of the termination date of the 
original match, that the matching program will be conducted without 
change and the matching program has been conducted in compliance with 
the original matching agreement. The match will not continue past the 
legislative authorized date to obtain this information.

    Approved: November 4, 2002.
Anthony J. Principi,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 02-29374 Filed 11-19-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P