[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 70 (Friday, April 11, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17851-17852]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-8907]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
Department of Labor (DOL))--Match Number 1003

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice of the renewal of an existing computer matching program 
which is scheduled to expire on May 16, 2003.

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[[Page 17852]]

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 DOL.

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) 965-8582 or writing to the Associate Commissioner for 
Income Security Programs, 760 Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401. All comments received will be 
available for public inspection at this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Associate Commissioner for Income 
Security Programs as shown above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. General

    The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Public 
Law (Pub. L.) 100-503), amended the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) by 
describing the manner in which computer matching involving 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 matching agreement by the Data 
Integrity Boards (DIB) of the participating Federal agencies;
    (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: April 4, 2003.
Martin H. Gerry,
Deputy Commissioner for Disability and Income Security Programs.

Notice of Computer Matching Program, Social Security Administration 
(SSA) With the Department of Labor (DOL)

A. Participating Agencies

    SSA and DOL.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    The purpose of this matching program is to establish the 
conditions, safeguards and procedures for DOL's disclosure of Part C 
Black Lung (BL) benefit data to SSA. SSA will use the match results to 
verify that recipients of Part C BL benefits are receiving the correct 
amount of Social Security disability benefits, as required by the 
Social Security Act (the Act).

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    Section 224(h)(1) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 424a(h)(1)).

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

    DOL will provide SSA with an electronic or magnetic tape file 
extracted from the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs' BL 
Benefits Payments File. The extracted file will contain information 
about all live miners, under age 65, entitled to Part C BL benefits. 
Each record on the DOL file will be matched with SSA's Master 
Beneficiary Record (SSA/OEEAS 60-0090), to identify individuals 
potentially subject to benefit reductions due to their receipt of Part 
C BL benefits, under section 224 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 424a).

E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program

    The matching program will become effective upon signing of the 
agreement by both parties to the agreement and approval of the 
agreement by the Data Integrity Boards of the respective agencies, but 
no sooner than 40 days after notice of the matching program is sent to 
Congress and the Office of Management and Budget, 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. 03-8907 Filed 4-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P