[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 199 (Monday, October 16, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60788-60789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-17084]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No. SSA 2006-0081]


Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
States, SDX-BENDEX-SVES Files--Matches 6001, 6002 and 6004)

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice of an amended computer matching program.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as 
amended, this notice announces amendments to an existing computer 
matching program that SSA conducts with the States.

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 writing to the Associate Commissioner 
for Income Security Programs, 245 Altmeyer Building, 640l 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:

[[Page 60789]]

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 
establishing the conditions under which computer matching involving the 
Federal government 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 programs 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: September 29, 2006.
Martin H. Gerry,
Deputy Commissioner for Disability and Income Security Programs.
Notice Of Computer Matching Program, Social Security Administration 
(SSA) With The States

A. Participating Agencies
    SSA and the States.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program
    Section 1137 of the Social Security Act requires individual States 
to have in effect an income and eligibility verification system meeting 
certain requirements in order to administer certain State-administered 
income, food assistance, and medical assistance programs.
    The agreements have been amended to add legal authority for 
disclosures to non-1137 programs that meet SSA's compatibility 
requirement and language has been added to address the use of tax data.
    A chief purpose of this matching program is to facilitate 
administration of this provision. Individual agreements with the States 
will describe the conditions under which SSA agrees to disclose 
information to the States relating to the eligibility for, and payment 
of, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, and Special Veterans 
Benefits, including certain tax return information disclosed by SSA, in 
accordance with applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, as 
well as quarters of coverage, prisoner, and death information.
    The matching program will also be used to implement provisions of 
Pub. L. 104-193, the Personal Responsibility and Work Reconciliation 
Act of 1996, involving the significance of Social Security coverage 
information to the eligibility of certain aliens for some Federal and 
State public benefits. Under this matching program, SSA will disclose 
certain Social Security coverage information on specific persons to 
States administering appropriate benefit programs.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program
    Sections 1106 and 1137 of the Social Security Act; sections 402, 
412, 421 and 435 of Pub. L. 104-193; section 202(x)(3)(B)(iv) of the 
Social Security Act; section 205(r)(3) of the Social Security Act; and 
section 6103(p)(4) of Title 26 of the Internal Revenue Code; 5 U.S.C. 
552a(b)(3); 5 U.S.C. 552a(a)(7); and 20 CFR 401.150.

D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Matching 
Program
    States will provide SSA with names and other identifying 
information of appropriate benefit applicants or recipients. Specific 
information from participating States will be matched, as provided in 
the agreement for the specific programs, with the following systems of 
records maintained by SSA:
    1. SDX--Supplemental Security Record/Special Veteran's Benefits 
(SSR/SVB) System, SSA/ODSSIS (60-0103);
    2. BENDEX--Master Beneficiary Record (MBR), SSA/ORSIS (60-0090) and 
the Earnings Recording and Self-Employment Income System, SSA/OEEAS 
(60-0059);
    3. EVS--Master Files of Social Security Number (SSN) Holders and 
SSN Applications, SSA/OEEAS (60-0058);
    4. SVES--SSR/SVB, SSA/ODSSIS (60-0103); MBR, SSA/ORSIS (60-0090); 
the Earnings Recording and Self-Employment Income System, SSA/OEEAS 
(60-0059); the Master Files of SSN Holders and SSN Applications, SSA/
OEEAS (60-0058); and the Prisoner Update Processing System (PUPS), SSA/
OEEAS (60-0269);
    5. Quarters of Coverage Query--the Earnings Recording and Self-
Employment Income System, SSA/OEEAS (60-0059) and the Master Files of 
SSN Holders and SSN Applications, SSA/OEEAS (60-0058);
    6. Prisoner Query--PUPS, SSA/OEEAS (60-0269); and
    7. Death Query--Master Files of SSN Holders and SSN Applications, 
SSA/OEEAS (60-0058)--subsection referred to as the NUMIDENT.
    SSA and the States will exchange information through the File 
Transfer Management System (FTMS) or online through the Interstate 
Connection Network. Cartridge or magnetic tape will be used in the 
event FTMS is inoperable.

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 is later. Individual State matching agreements under the 
program may also become effective upon the signing of the agreements by 
the parties to the agreements. The agreements will expire on June 30, 
2007.

[FR Doc. E6-17084 Filed 10-13-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P