[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 24, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13819-13820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6489]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Defense Logistics Agency


Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program

AGENCY: Defense Manpower Data Center, Defense Logistics Agency, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of a computer matching program.

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SUMMARY: Subsection (e)(12) of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 
U.S.C. 552a), requires agencies to publish advanced notice of any 
proposed or revised computer matching program by the matching agency 
for public comment. The Department of Defense (DoD) as the matching 
agency under the Privacy Act, is hereby giving notice to the record 
subjects of a computer matching program between Social Security 
Administration (SSA) and the DoD that their records are being matched 
by computer.
    The Social Security Act requires SSA to verify, with independent or 
collateral sources, information provided to SSA by recipients of SSI 
payments and beneficiaries of SVB benefits. The SSI and SVB recipient/
beneficiary provides information about eligibility/entitlement factors 
and other relevant information. SSA obtains additional information as 
necessary before making any determinations of eligibility/payment or 
entitlement/benefit amounts or adjustments thereto. With respect to 
military retirement payments to SSI recipients and SVB beneficiaries 
who are retired members of the Uniformed Services or their survivors, 
SSA proposes to accomplish this task by computer matching with the DoD.

DATES: This proposed action will become effective April 23, 2004, and 
matching may commence unless changes to the matching program are 
required due to public comments or by Congressional or by Office of 
Management and Budget objections. Any public comment must be received 
before the effective date.

ADDRESSES: Any interested party may submit written comments to the 
Director, Defense Privacy Office, 1941 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 
920, Arlington, VA 22202-4502.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Vahan Moushegian, Jr. at (703) 
607-2943.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to subsection (o) of the Privacy 
Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a), the Defense manpower Data 
Center (DMDC) and SSA have concluded an agreement to conduct a computer 
matching program.
    The parties to this agreement have determined that a computer 
matching program is the efficient, expeditious, and effective means of 
obtaining and processing the information needed by the SSA under the 
Social Security Act to verify the eligibility/entitlement of, and to 
verify payment benefit amounts for, certain SSI and SVB recipients/
beneficiaries. Computer matching also will produce the required data to 
calculate and make any necessary adjustments of SSI payments and SVB 
benefits. The principal alternative to using a computer matching 
program would be to conduct a manual comparison of DoD payment records 
with a list of SSI and SVB recipients/beneficiaries. Conducting such a 
manual match would clearly impose a considerable administrative burden, 
constitute a greater intrusion on the individual's privacy, and would 
result in additional delay in the eventual SSI payment and SVB benefit 
or recovery of unauthorized or erroneous payments/benefits. Using the 
computer matching program, the information exchange between the parties 
can be accomplished within 30 days.
    A copy of the computer matching agreement between SSA and DoD is 
available upon request. Requests should be submitted to the address 
caption above or to the Information Exchange and Matching, Office of 
Earnings and Information Exchange, Office of Income Security Programs, 
Office of Disability and Income Security Programs, Social Security 
Administration, 0075 RRCC, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 
21235.
    Set forth below is the notice of the establishment of a computer 
matching program required by paragraph 6.c. of the Office of Management 
and Budget Guidelines on computer matching published on June 19, 1989, 
at 54 FR 2518.
    The matching agreement, as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(r) of the 
Privacy Act, and an advance copy of this notice was submitted on March 
16, 2004, to the House Committee on Government Reform, the Senate 
Committee on Governmental Affairs, and the Administrator of the Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget 
pursuant to paragraph 4d of Appendix I to OMB Circular No. A-130, 
``Federal Agency Responsibilities for Maintaining Records about 
Individuals,'' dated February 8, 1996 (February 20, 1996, 61 FR 6427).

    Dated: March 18, 2004.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Office, Department of Defense.

Computer Matching Program Between the Social Security Administration 
and the Department of Defense for Verification of Social Security 
Supplemental Security Income Payments and Special Veterans Benefits

    A. Participating Agencies: Participants in this computer matching 
program are the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Defense 
Manpower Data Center (DMDC) of the Department of Defense (DoD). The SSA 
is the source agency, i.e., the activity disclosing the records for the 
purpose of the match. The DMDC is the specific recipient activity or 
matching agency, i.e., the agency that actually performs the computer 
matching.
    B. Purpose of the Match: The Social Security Act requires SSA to 
verify, with independent or collateral sources, information provided to 
SSA by recipients of SSI payments and beneficiaries of SVB benefits. 
The SSI and SVB recipient/beneficiaries provides information about 
eligibility/entitlement factors and other relevant information. SSA 
obtains additional information as necessary before making any 
determinations of eligibility/payment or entitlement/benefit amounts or 
adjustments thereto. With respect to military retirement payments to 
SSI recipients and SVB beneficiaries who are retired members of the 
Uniformed Services or their survivors, SSA proposes to accomplish this 
task by computer matching with the DOD.
    C. Authority for Conducting the Match: The legal authority for the 
matching program is contained in sections 1631(e)(1)(B),(f) and 806(b) 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. Sec.  1383(e)(1)(B), (f) and 
1006(b)).
    D. Records to be Matched: The systems of records maintained by the 
respective agencies under the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, from 
which records will be disclosed for the

[[Page 13820]]

purpose of this computer match are as follows:
    1. SSA will use records from a system of records identified as 60-
0103, entitled ``Supplemental Security Income Record and Special 
Veterans Benefits, SSA/OEEAS,'' last published in the Federal Register 
at 66 FR 11079, February 21, 2001.
    2. DMDC will use records from a system of records identified as 
S322.10 DMDC, entitled ``Defense Manpower Data Center Data Base,'' last 
published in the Federal Register at 67 FR 78781, December 26, 2002.
    E. Description of Computer Matching Program: SSA, as the source 
agency, will provide DMDC with an electronic file which contains the 
data elements. Upon receipt of the electronic file, DMDC, as the 
recipient agency, will perform a computer match using all nine digits 
of the SSN of the SSI/SVB file against a DMDC database which contains 
the data elements. The DMDC database consists of extracts of personnel 
and pay records of retired members of the uniformed services or their 
survivors. The ``hits'' or matches will be furnished to SSA. SSA is 
responsible for verifying and determining that the data on the DMDC 
electronic reply file are consistent with the SSA source file and 
resolving any discrepancies or inconsistencies on an individual basis. 
SSA will also be responsible for making final determinations as to 
eligibility for/entitlement to, or amount of payments/benefits, their 
continuation or needed adjustments, or any recovery of overpayments as 
a result of the match.
    1. The electronic file provided by SSA will contain approximately 
6.5 million records extracted from the SSR/SVB.
    2. The electronic DMDC database contains records on approximately 
2.3 million retired uniformed service members or their survivors.
    F. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program: This computer matching 
program is subject to public comment and review by Congress and the 
Office of Management and Budget. If the mandatory 30 day period for 
comment has expired and no comments are received and if no objections 
are raised by either Congress or the Office of Management and Budget 
within 40 days of being notified of the proposed match, the computer 
matching program becomes effective and the respective agencies may 
begin the exchange at a mutually agreeable time on a quarterly basis, 
shifting to a monthly basis, provided DoD consents, when and if the 
computer system work can be completed to effectuate the increased 
frequency. By agreement between SSA and DMDC, the matching program will 
be in effect for 18 months with an option to renew for 12 additional 
months unless one of the parties to the agreement advises the other by 
written request to terminate or modify the agreement.
    G. Address for Receipt of Public Comments or Inquiries: Director, 
Defense Privacy Office, 1941 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 920, 
Arlington, VA 22202-4502. Telephone (703) 607-2943.

[FR Doc. 04-6489 Filed 3-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-M