[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 203 (Thursday, October 21, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 61913]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23493]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Privacy Act of 1974; Report of Matching Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs 
(VA) intends to continue a recurring computer program matching Social 
Security Administration (SSA) records with VA pension and parents' 
dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) records.
    The goal of this match is to compare income and employment status 
as reported to VA with wage records maintained by SSA.
    VA plans to match records of veterans, surviving spouses and 
children who receive pension, and parents who receive DIC, with SSA 
income tax return information as it relates to earned income. VA will 
also match records of veterans receiving disability compensation at the 
100 percent rate based on unemployability with SSA income tax return 
information as it relates to earned income.
    VA will use this information to adjust VA benefit payments as 
prescribed by law. The proposed matching program will enable VA to 
ensure accurate reporting of income and employment status.
    The authority for this matching program is 38 U.S.C. 5106, which 
requires Federal agencies to furnish VA with information necessary to 
determine eligibility for or amount of benefits. In addition, 26 U.S.C. 
6103(l)(7) authorizes the disclosure of tax return information to VA.
    Records to be Matched: 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 will come from the Earnings 
Recording and Self-Employment Income System, SSA/OSR, 60-0059. In 
accordance with Title 5 U.S.C. subsection 552a(o)(2) and (r), copies of 
the agreement are being sent to both Houses of Congress and to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
    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 of 
this Notice in the Federal Register, or 40 days after copies of this 
Notice and the agreement of the parties are submitted to Congress and 
OMB, whichever is later, 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: Written comments may be submitted by: mail or hand-delivery 
to Director, Regulations Management (00REG1), Department of Veterans 
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Room 1068, Washington, DC 20420; fax 
to (202) 273-9026; or e-mail to [email protected]. All comments 
received will be available for public inspection in the Office of 
Regulation Policy and Management, Room 1063B, between the hours of 8 
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except holidays). Please 
call (202) 273-9515 for an appointment.

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

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

    Approved: October 4, 2004.
Anthony J. Principi,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 04-23493 Filed 10-20-04; 8:45 am]
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