[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54339-54340]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-20322]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/ 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Benefit Administration 
(VBA) Match Number 1008

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice of a renewal of a computer matching program.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as 
amended, this notice announces a renewal of a computer matching program 
that SSA will conduct with VBA.

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 either by 
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 (Pub. L. 
100-503), amended the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. Sec.  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

[[Page 54340]]

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: August 23, 2004.
Martin H. Gerry,
Deputy Commissioner for Disability and Income Security Programs.
(SSA Match 1008)
Notice of Computer Matching Program (SSA/ Department of Veterans 
Affairs (VA) Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA) Match Number 1008

A. Participating Agencies
    SSA and VBA.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program
    The purpose of this matching program is to establish conditions for 
VBA as the source agency, to disclose VA compensation and pension 
payment data to the SSA, the recipient agency. This disclosure will 
provide SSA with information necessary to identify certain Supplemental 
Security Income (SSI) and Special Veterans Benefit (SVB) recipients 
under Title XVI and Title VIII of the Social Security Act (``Act'') 
respectively who receive VA-administered benefits, and to update their 
SSI/SVB records to reflect the presence of such payments.
    The disclosure will also enable SSA to efficiently implement a 
Medicare outreach program mandated by Section 1144 of Title XI of the 
Act. Information disclosed by the VA will enable SSA to identify income 
limits for certain individuals and to determine their potential 
eligibility for Medicare Savings Programs (MSP) and enable SSA, in 
turn, to identify these individuals to the States.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program
    The legal authority for SSA to conduct this matching activity is 
contained in sections 1631(e)(1)(B) and 1631(f) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 
1383(e)(1)(B) and 1383(f)(SSI), and section 806(b) of the Act, 42 U.S.C 
1006(b)(SVB) and section 1144 of the Act, 42 U.S.C Sec.  1320b-14. SSA 
is required to verify declarations of applicants for and recipients of 
SSI payments before making a determination of eligibility or payment 
amount. Section 1631(f) of the Act (42 U.S.C. Sec.  1383(f)(SSI) cited 
above requires Federal agencies to provide SSA with information 
necessary to verify SSI eligibility or benefit amounts or to verify 
other information related to these determinations.

Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Matching Agreement
    VBA will disclose to SSA the data file as described below: VBA will 
provide SSA with electronic files containing compensation and pension 
payment data from its system of records entitled the Compensation, 
Pension, Education and Rehabilitation Records-VA (58VA21/22). SSA will 
then match VBA data with SSI/SVB payment information maintained in its 
system of records entitled Supplemental Security Income Record and 
Special Veterans Benefits (SSA/OEEAS 60-0103) most recently published 
at 66 FR 11079, dated 02/21/2001. Routine use 21 of 58VA21/22 and 
routine use 3 of 60-0103 permit disclosure of the subject records for 
matching purposes.

Inclusive Dates of the Match
    The matching agreement for this program shall become effective no 
sooner than 40 days after notice of the matching program is sent to 
Congress and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) or 30 days after 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register whichever 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. 04-20322 Filed 9-7-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P