[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 213 (Tuesday, November 4, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62492-62493]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27648]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Public Debt (BPD))--Match Number 
1038

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice of the renewal of an existing computer matching program 
which is scheduled to expire on December 25, 2003.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 BPD.

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 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, 245 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: October 3, 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 the Treasury, Bureau of Public Debt (BPD)

A. Participating Agencies

    SSA and BPD.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    The purpose of this matching program is to establish the 
conditions, safeguards and procedures for BPD's disclosure of certain 
savings security information to SSA. (The term ``savings security'' 
means Series E, EE or I United States Savings Securities.) SSA will use 
the match results to verify eligibility and payment amounts of 
individuals under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. The 
SSI program was created under title XVI of the Social Security Act (the 
Act) to provide benefits under the rules of that title to individuals 
with income and resources below levels established by law and 
regulations.

[[Page 62493]]

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    Sections 1631(e)(1)(B) and (f) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1383(e)(1)(B) 
and (f)).

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

    SSA will provide BPD with a finder file extracted from SSA's 
Supplemental Security Income Record and Special Veterans Benefits 
system of records containing Social Security numbers of individuals who 
have applied for or receive SSI payments. This information will be 
matched with BPD files in BPD's savings-type securities registration 
systems of records (United States Savings Type Securities and Retail 
Treasury Securities Access Application) and a reply file of matched 
records will be furnished to SSA. Upon receipt of BPD's reply file, SSA 
will match identifying information from the BPD file with SSA's records 
to determine preliminarily whether the data pertain to the relevant SSI 
applicant or recipient before beginning the process of verifying 
savings security ownership and taking any necessary benefit actions.

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 this 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. 03-27648 Filed 11-3-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P