[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 33 (Friday, February 18, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8418-8419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3096]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
Internal Revenue Service (IRS))--Match Number 1305

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice of a new computer matching program, expected to begin 
April 1, 2005.

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

DATES: SSA will file a report of the subject matching program with the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, 
the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of the House of

[[Page 8419]]

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 by either 
telefax to (410) 965-8582 or writing to the Associate Commissioner, 
Office of Income Security Programs, 760 Altmeyer Building, 6401 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401. All comments received 
will be available for public inspection at this address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. General

    The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Public 
Law (Pub. L.) 100-503), amended the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 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 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 Data Integrity Boards' approval of the match 
agreements;
    (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: February 8, 2005.
Martin H. Gerry,
Deputy Commissioner for Disability and Income Security Programs.

Notice of Computer Matching Program, Social Security Administration 
(SSA) With Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

A. Participating Agencies

    SSA and IRS.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    The purpose of this matching program is to establish conditions 
under which IRS agrees to disclose to SSA certain tax return 
information necessary to verify an individual's self-certification of 
eligibility for prescription drug subsidy assistance under the Medicare 
Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA). 
Pursuant to section 1860D-14 of title I of the MMA (42 U.S.C. 1395w-
114), SSA will determine whether the individual is an individual 
described in section 1860D-14(a) (i.e. an individual with income up to 
150 percent of the Federal poverty guidelines).

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    Section 6103(1)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 
6103(1)(7)) authorizes the IRS to disclose return information with 
respect to unearned income to Federal, State, and local agencies 
administering certain benefit programs under the Social Security Act.
    Section 1860d-14 of title I of the MMA requires the Commissioner of 
SSA to verify the eligibility of an individual who seeks to be 
considered as an individual eligible for the prescription drug subsidy 
under the MMA and who self-certifies his/her income, resources and 
family size.

D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Matching 
Program

    SSA will provide the IRS with identifying information with respect 
to applicants for, and recipients of, the Medicare Part D Prescription 
Drug Subsidy from the Medicare Part D and Part D Subsidy File system of 
records, SSA/ORSIS 60-0321, as published at 69 FR 248 (December 28, 
2004). IRS will extract tax return information with respect to unearned 
income from the Information Returns Master File (IRMF), Treasury/IRS 
22.061, as published at 66 FR 63797 (December 10, 2001), using the same 
extract as the Disclosure of Information to Federal, State and local 
Agencies (DIFSLA) program. SSA will maintain return information 
provided by the IRS through this match in the Medicare Part D and Part 
D Subsidy File system of records.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program

    The matching program will become effective no sooner than 40 days 
after notice of the matching program is sent to Congress and OMB, or 30 
days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register, 
whichever date 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. 05-3096 Filed 2-17-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P