[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48963-48964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13863]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (IRS))--Match 1310

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice of a new computer matching program, which is expected to 
begin October 1, 2006.

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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 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 by either 
telefaxing to (410) 965-8582 or by writing to the Associate 
Commissioner, Office of Income Security Programs, 252 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. 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.


[[Page 48964]]


    Dated: August 4, 2006.
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 the correct 
amount of Medicare Part B premium subsidy adjustment under section 
1839(i) of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and 
Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA). Pursuant to section 1839(i) of the MMA 
(42 U.S.C. 1395r), SSA shall determine whether a Medicare Part B 
enrollee would pay a larger percentage of the Part B premium than an 
individual with income below the applicable threshold.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program
    Section 6103(l)(20) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 
6103(1)(20)) authorizes the IRS to disclose return information with 
respect to Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) to SSA for the purpose 
of adjusting the usual Part B premium subsidy for Medicare 
beneficiaries with MAGI above the applicable threshold. Section 1839(i) 
of the MMA requires the Commissioner of SSA to determine the amount of 
an individual's Part B premium if the MAGI is above the applicable 
threshold for an individual or a married couple as established in 
section 1839(i)(2)(A) of the Act.

D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Matching 
Program
    SSA will provide the IRS with identifying information with respect 
to enrollees for Medicare Part B from the Master Beneficiary Record 
system of records, SSA/ORSIS 60-0090, originally published at 60 FR 
2144 (January 6, 1995) and as revised at 71 FR 1826 (January 11, 2006). 
MAGI data provided by the IRS will be maintained in the Medicare 
Database system of records, SSA/ORSIS 60-0321, published at 69 FR 77816 
(December 28, 2004), which is currently being revised to include the 
Medicare Part B income related monthly adjustment amount. IRS will 
extract return information with respect to MAGI from the Return 
Transaction File, which is a part of the Individual Returns, 
Adjustments and Miscellaneous Documents File, Treasury/IRS 22.034, as 
published at 66 FR 63794 (December 10, 2001).

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. E6-13863 Filed 8-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P