[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 23, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 74292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31508]



[[Page 74292]]

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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Privacy Act of 1974; Report of Matching Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of computer matching program.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs 
(VA) intends to continue a recurring computer matching program matching 
Social Security Administration (SSA) records with VA pension and 
parents' dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) records.
    The purpose of the match is to compare income status as reported to 
VA with records maintained by SSA. VA plans to match records of 
beneficiaries who receive pension and DIC with the Master Beneficiary 
Record (MBR) and the Earnings Recording and Self-Employment Income 
System (MEF) maintained by SSA.
    VA will use this information to update the master records of VA 
beneficiaries receiving income dependent benefits and to adjust VA 
benefit payments as prescribed by law. The matching program will enable 
VA to ensure accurate reporting of income.
    Records to be Matched: The VA records involved in the match are the 
VA system of records, Compensation, Pension, Education and 
Rehabilitation Records--VA (58 VA 21/22). The SSA records consist of 
the SSA Master beneficiary Record (MBR), SSA/OSR, 60-0090. In the 
absence of MBR data, SSA will attempt to verify the SSN in VA records 
using the SSA Earnings Recording and Self-Employment Income System 
(MEF), SSA/OSR, 60-0059.
    This notice is provided in accordance with the provisions of the 
Privacy Act of 1974 as amended by Public Law 100-503.

DATES: The match will start no sooner than 30 days after publication in 
the Federal Register and end not more than 18 months after the 
agreement is properly implemented by the parties. The involved 
agencies' Data Integrity Boards (DIB) may extend this match for 12 
months provided the agencies certify to their DIBs within three months 
of the ending date of the original match that the matching program will 
be conducted without change and that the matching program has been 
conducted in compliance with the original matching program.

ADDRESSES: Mail or hand-deliver written comments to: Director, 
Regulations Management (00REG1), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 
Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420. All comments received will 
be available for public inspection in the Office of Regulation Policy 
and Management, Room 1158, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20420, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday except 
holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Trowbridge (212B), (202) 273-
7218.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This information is required by title 5 
U.S.C. 552a(e)(12), the Privacy Act of 1974. A copy of this notice has 
been provided to both Houses of Congress and OMB.

    Approved: December 12, 2003.
Anthony J. Principi,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 03-31508 Filed 12-22-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P