[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 103 (Thursday, May 29, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32166-32167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-13235]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Match Number 1016)

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice of the renewal of an existing computer matching program, 
which is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2003.

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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 IRS.

DATES: IRS 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, 
Office of 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:

[[Page 32167]]

    (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 2, 2003.
Martin H. Gerry,
Deputy Commissioner for Disability and Income Security Programs.

Notice of Computer Matching Program, Social Security Administration 
(SSA) With Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

A. Participating Agencies

    SSA and IRS.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    The purpose of this matching program is to establish conditions 
under which IRS agrees to disclose to SSA certain return information 
for use in verifying eligibility for, and/or the correct amount of, 
benefits provided under Title XVI of the Social Security Act to 
qualified aged, blind and disabled individuals, and federally 
administered supplementary payments of the type described in section 
1616(a) of such Act (including payments pursuant to an agreement 
entered into under section 212(a) of Pub. L. 93-66, 87 Stat. 152).

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    Section 6103(1)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 
6103(1)(7)) authorizes the IRS to disclose return information with 
respect to unearned income to Federal, State, and local agencies 
administering certain benefit programs under the Social Security Act.
    Section 1631(e)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1383(e)(1)(B)) requires verification of Supplemental Security Income 
(SSI) eligibility and benefit amounts with independent or collateral 
sources.

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

    SSA will provide the IRS with identifying information with respect 
to applicants for and recipients of benefits available under programs 
specified in this Agreement from the Supplemental Security Income 
Record and Special Veterans Benefit (SSR), SSA/OSR 60-0103, as 
published at 66 FR 11079 (February 21, 2001). IRS will extract return 
information with respect to unearned income from the Wage and 
Information Returns (IRP) Processing File, Treas/IRS 22.061, hereafter 
referred to as the Information Return Master File (IRMF), as published 
at 66 FR 63797 (December 10, 2001), through the Disclosure of 
Information to Federal, State and Local Agencies (DIFSLA) program.

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 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. 03-13235 Filed 5-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P