[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 48 (Thursday, March 11, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11693-11694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5414]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; New System of Records and New 
Routine Use Disclosures

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Proposed new routine use for existing systems of records.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4) and 
(11)), we are issuing public notice of our intent to establish a new 
routine use disclosure applicable to the following existing SSA systems 
of records:
     Completed Determination Record--Continuing 
Disability Determinations, 60-0050;
     Master Files of Social Security Number (SSN) 
Holders and SSN Applications, 60-0058;
     Master Beneficiary Record, 60-0090;
     Supplemental Security Income Record and Special 
Veterans Benefits, 60-0103;
     Old Age, Survivors and Disability Beneficiary 
and Worker Records and Extracts (Statistics), 60-0202; and
     Beneficiary, Family and Household Surveys, 
Records and Extracts System (Statistics), 60-0211.
    The proposed routine use will allow SSA to expand the use of 
information SSA currently collects for additional SSA-approved research 
studies. Such further uses will permit the development of richer and 
more comprehensive information that can be used in actuarial, 
epidemiological, economic and other social science projects that will 
ultimately benefit the public, SSA, and other Federal, State or 
congressional support agencies' (e.g., Congressional Budget Office 
(CBO) and the Congressional Research Staff in the Library of Congress) 
programs. We invite public comment on this proposal.

DATES: We filed a report of the proposed new routine use disclosure 
with the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, the 
Chairman of the House Committee on Government Reform, and the Director, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) on March 4, 2004. The proposed routine use will become 
effective on April 13, 2004, unless we receive comments warranting it 
not to become effective.

ADDRESSES: Interested individuals may comment on this publication by 
writing to the Executive Director, Office of Public Disclosure, Office 
of the General Counsel, Social Security Administration, Room 3-A-6 
Operations Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 
21235-6401. All comments received will be available for public 
inspection at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Pamela McLaughlin, Social 
Insurance Specialist, Strategic Issues Team, Office of Public 
Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel, Social Security 
Administration, Room 3-C-2 Operations Building, 6401 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235, e-mail address at 
[email protected], or by telephone at (410) 965-3677.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Discussion of the Proposed New Routine Use

A. General

    In an effort to improve the quality of research designed to enhance 
the decision-making process in the Social Security program, SSA is 
expanding the use of information it currently collects for additional 
SSA-approved research studies. Such further uses will permit the 
development of richer and more comprehensive information that can be 
used in actuarial, epidemiological, economic and other social science 
projects that will ultimately benefit the public, SSA, and other 
Federal, State or congressional support agencies' (e.g., Congressional 
Budget Office (CBO) and the Congressional Research Staff in the Library 
of Congress) programs. The proposed use of the information will allow 
new studies to occur regarding the administration of the Social 
Security program, and other related programs, that might otherwise not 
be undertaken due to the lack of data.

B. Disclosure of Information to a Federal, State or Congressional 
Support Agency (e.g., CBO and the Congressional Research Staff in the 
Library of Congress) for Research, Evaluation or Statistical Studies

    1. The types of information that are most commonly used that will 
be released under the proposed routine use may include, but not be 
limited to, the types of information in the following systems of 
records that SSA maintains:
    (a) From the Completed Determination Record--Continuing Disability 
Determinations, 60-0050: date of birth; date disability began; type of 
claim; continuance or cessation code; date of termination; and date of 
completion.
    (b) From the Master Files of Social Security Number (SSN) Holders 
and SSN Applications, 60-0058: date of birth; sex; race; place of 
birth; and date of death.
    (c) From the Master Beneficiary Record, 60-0090: primary insurance 
amount; average indexed monthly earnings; date of death of primary 
beneficiary; beneficiary date of birth; beneficiary date of death; 
monthly benefit amount; monthly benefit payable; diagnosis code; reason 
for denial/disallowance; and dual-entitlement data.
    (d) From the Supplemental Security Income Record and Special 
Veterans Benefits, 60-0103: transaction code; computation status; date 
of birth; date of death; sex; race; date of eligibility; payment status 
code; Federal assistance amount; and current amount of State 
supplementation.
    (e) From the Old Age, Survivors and Disability Beneficiary and 
Worker Records and Extracts (Statistics), 60-0202: various data.
    (f) From the Beneficiary, Family, and Household Surveys, Records 
and Extracts System (Statistics), 60-0211: various data.
    2. The types of research activities contemplated by the proposed 
routine use do not include research proposals that involve the use of 
information from SSA's systems of records to draw samples for surveys 
or to contact individuals, other than in situations already provided 
for in regulations.
    The proposed routine use reads as follows:
    Disclosure may be made to a Federal, State, or congressional 
support agency (e.g., Congressional Budget Office and the Congressional 
Research Staff in the Library of Congress) for research, evaluation, or 
statistical studies. Such disclosures include, but are not limited to, 
release of information in assessing the extent to which one can predict 
eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments or Social 
Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits; examining the 
distribution of Social Security benefits by economic and demographic 
groups and how these differences might be affected by possible changes 
in policy; analyzing the interaction of economic and non-economic 
variables affecting entry and

[[Page 11694]]

exit events and duration in the Title II Old Age, Survivors, and 
Disability Insurance and the Title XVI SSI disability programs; and, 
analyzing retirement decisions focusing on the role of Social Security 
benefit amounts, automatic benefit recomputation, the delayed 
retirement credit, and the retirement test, if SSA:
    a. Determines that the routine use does not violate legal 
limitations under which the record was provided, collected, or 
obtained;
    b. Determines that the purpose for which the proposed use is to be 
made:
    (i) Cannot reasonably be accomplished unless the record is provided 
in a form that identifies individuals;
    (ii) Is of sufficient importance to warrant the effect on, or risk 
to, the privacy of the individual which such limited additional 
exposure of the record might bring;
    (iii) Has reasonable probability that the objective of the use 
would be accomplished;
    (iv) Is of importance to the Social Security program or the Social 
Security beneficiaries or is for an epidemiological research project 
that relates to the Social Security program or beneficiaries;
    c. Requires the recipient of information to:
    (i) Establish appropriate administrative, technical, and physical 
safeguards to prevent unauthorized use or disclosure of the record and 
agree to on-site inspection by SSA's personnel, its agents, or by 
independent agents of the recipient agency of those safeguards;
    (ii) Remove or destroy the information that enables the individual 
to be identified at the earliest time at which removal or destruction 
can be accomplished consistent with the purpose of the project, unless 
the recipient receives written authorization from SSA that it is 
justified, based on research objectives, for retaining such 
information;
    (iii) Make no further use of the records except
    (a) Under emergency circumstances affecting the health or safety of 
any individual following written authorization from SSA;
    (b) For disclosure to an identified person approved by SSA for the 
purpose of auditing the research project;
    (iv) Keep the data as a system of statistical records. A 
statistical record is one which is maintained only for statistical and 
research purposes and which is not used to make any determination about 
an individual;
    d. Secures a written statement by the recipient of the information 
attesting to the recipient's understanding of, and willingness to abide 
by, these provisions.
    We are not republishing in their entirety the notices of systems of 
records to which we are adding the proposed new routine use disclosure. 
Instead, we are republishing only the identification number, and the 
name of each system of records, and the volume, page number, and date 
of the Federal Register (FR) issue in which the systems notice was last 
published. The proposed new routine use will be included in the 
following SSA systems notices:
    (1) Completed Determination Record--Continuing Disability 
Determinations, 60-0050;
    (2) Master Files of Social Security Number (SSN) Holders and SSN 
Applications, 60-0058;
    (3) Master Beneficiary Record, 60-0090;
    (4) Supplemental Security Income Record and Special Veterans 
Benefits, 60-0103;
    (5) Old Age, Survivors and Disability Beneficiary and Worker 
Records and Extracts (Statistics), 60-0202; and
    (6) Beneficiary, Family and Household Surveys, Records and Extracts 
System (Statistics), 60-0211.

II. Compatibility of Proposed Routine Use

    The Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a(a)(7) and (b)(3)) and SSA's 
disclosure regulation (20 CFR part 401) permit us to disclose 
information under a published routine use for a purpose that is 
compatible with the purpose for which we collected the information. 
Section 401.150(c) of SSA's Regulations at 20 CFR permits us to 
disclose information under a routine use, where necessary, to carry out 
SSA programs. This proposed routine use will allow new studies to occur 
regarding the administration of the Social Security program, and other 
related programs, that might not otherwise be undertaken due to the 
lack of data. The types of research activities contemplated by the 
proposed routine use would include, but are not limited to, assessing 
the extent to which one can predict eligibility for SSI payments or 
Social Security disability insurance benefits; examining the 
distribution of Social Security benefits by economic and demographic 
groups and how these differences might be affected by possible changes 
in policy; analyzing the interaction of economic and non-economic 
variables affecting entry and exit events and duration in the Title II 
Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance and Title XVI SSI 
disability programs; and, analyzing retirement focusing on the role of 
Social Security benefit amounts, automatic benefit computation, the 
delayed retirement credit, and the retirement test. The proposed 
routine use is appropriate and meets the relevant statutory and 
regulatory criteria.

III. Effect of the Proposed Routine Use Disclosure on the Rights of 
Individuals

    The proposed routine use will allow SSA to disclose more 
comprehensive information that can be used in actuarial, 
epidemiological, economic, and other social science projects that will 
ultimately benefit SSA, other Federal programs and the public. The 
research activity that will be conducted based on information disclosed 
under the proposed routine use will not result in decisions or actions 
taken against specific individuals. The routine use has established 
safeguards to prevent unauthorized use of disclosure of the record and 
to ensure the privacy and other rights of individuals. Additionally, we 
will adhere to all applicable provisions of the Privacy Act when 
disclosing information. Thus, we do not anticipate that the proposed 
new routine use will have any unwarranted adverse effect on the rights 
of individuals about whom data will be disclosed.

    Dated: March 3, 2004.
Jo Anne B. Barnhart,
Commissioner.
[FR Doc. 04-5414 Filed 3-10-04; 8:45 am]
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