[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1805-1806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-364]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Privacy Act of 1974; Report of Matching Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of a computer-matching program.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with subsection (e)(12) of the Privacy Act of 
1974, as amended, (5 U.S.C. 552a) this notice announces that the 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), recipient agency, intends to 
conduct a recurring computer-matching program with the Office of 
Personnel Management (OPM), source agency.
    The VA will match pension and parents' dependency and indemnity 
compensation (DIC) records with OPM recipient records. The goal of this 
match is to compare income status as reported to VA with benefit 
records maintained by OPM. The authority to conduct this match is 38 
U.S.C. 5106.

DATES: VA will file a report of the subject matching agreement with the 
Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; the 
House Committee on Government Reform; and the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OBM). The matching 
program will be effective as indicated in this notice.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted through http://www.Regulations.gov; by mail or hand-delivery to the Director, 
Regulations Management (00REG), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 
Vermont Ave., NW., Room 1068, Washington, DC 20420; or by fax to (202) 
273-9026. Copies of 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. In addition, during the comment period, comments may be 
viewed online through the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Liverman (212C), (202) 273-
7280.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to subsection (o) of the Privacy 
Act of 1974, as amended, (5 U.S.C. 552a), OPM and VA have determined 
that a computer matching agreement is the most cost effective and 
efficient way to verify statements of applicants and recipients.
    VA has an obligation to verify the income information submitted by 
individuals in receipt of income-dependent benefits. Title 38 U.S.C. 
5106 requires that Federal agencies disclose this information to VA 
upon request. By comparing the information received through the 
matching program between VA and OPM on a recurring basis, VA will be 
able to make timely and more accurate adjustments in the benefits 
payable.

A. Participating Agencies

    The U.S. Office of Personnel Management and the U.S. Department of 
Veterans Affairs.

B. Purpose of the Match

    The purpose of the matching agreement is to identify beneficiaries 
receiving VA income dependent benefits and OPM benefits, to update VA's 
master records and adjust VA income dependent benefit payments as 
prescribed by law. This agreement reflects both agencies' 
responsibilities under the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) and the 
regulations promulgated.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    The authority to conduct this match is 38 U.S.C. 5106.

D. Records to Be Matched

    The VA records involved in the match are the VA system of records, 
Compensation, Pension and Education and Rehabilitation Records--VA (58 
VA 21/22), first published at 41 FR 9294 (March 3, 1976), and last 
amended at 70 FR 34186 (June 13, 2005), with other amendments as cited 
therein.
    The OPM records consist of information from the OPM Civil Service 
Retirement Pay File identified as OPM Central-1, Civil Service 
Retirement and

[[Page 1806]]

Insurance Records, published at 60 FR 63081, December 8, 1995, and last 
amended on May 3, 2000, at 65 FR 25775.

E. Description of Computer Matching Program

    VA plans to match records of veterans and surviving spouses and 
children who receive pension, and parents who receive DIC, with benefit 
records maintained by OPM. The match with OPM will provide VA with data 
from OPM civil service benefit records.
    VA will provide OPM with a tape, which contains the names, VA claim 
numbers, social security numbers, verification codes and VA regional 
office identifiers for all individuals in receipt of income-dependent 
benefits. OPM will return a tape to VA, which contains information on 
OPM payment amounts and the surnames in OPM's records that match the 
names and social security numbers provided by VA.
    VA will use this information to update the master records of VA 
beneficiaries receiving income dependent benefits and to adjust VA 
benefit payments as prescribed by law. Otherwise, information about a 
VA beneficiary's income is obtained only from reporting by the 
beneficiary. The proposed matching program will enable VA to ensure 
accurate reporting of income.

F. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program

    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 is submitted to Congress and 
the Office of Management and Budget, 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.
    This computer-matching program is subject to public comment and 
review by Congress and the Office of Management and Budget. 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.
    This notice is provided in accordance with the provisions of the 
Privacy Act of 1974 as amended by Public Law 100-503.

    Approved: December 19, 2006.
Gordon H. Mansfield,
Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
 [FR Doc. E7-364 Filed 1-12-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P