[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 25, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43639-43640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18109]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

 [Docket No. SSA 2011-0090]


Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; Computer Matching Program 
(Social Security Administration (SSA)/Department of Veterans Affairs 
(VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA))--Match Number 1008

AGENCY: SSA.

ACTION: Notice of a renewal of an existing computer matching program 
that expired on May 10, 2012.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as 
amended, this notice announces a renewal of an existing computer 
matching program that we are currently conducting with VA/VBA.

DATES: We will file a report of the subject matching program with the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; 
the Committee on Oversight and 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) 966-0869 or writing to the Executive Director, 
Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel, 617 
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 Executive Director, Office of 
Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel, SSA, 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 
conditions under which computer matching involving the Federal 
government could be performed and adding certain protections for 
persons applying for, and receiving,

[[Page 43640]]

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 persons.
    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 approval of the matching agreement by the Data Integrity 
Boards of the participating Federal agencies;
    (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 a person's benefits or payments.

B. SSA Computer Matches Subject to the Privacy Act

    We have taken action to ensure that all of our computer matching 
programs comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act, as amended.

Dawn S. Wiggins,
Acting Executive Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of 
the General Counsel.

Notice of Computer Matching Program, SSA With the Department of 
Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)

A. Participating Agencies

    SSA and VA/VBA.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    The purpose of this matching program is to establish the conditions 
under which VA will disclose VA compensation and pension payment data 
to us for the purpose of identifying certain Supplemental Security 
Income (SSI) and Special Veterans Benefit (SVB) recipients under titles 
XVI and VIII of the Social Security Act (Act), respectively, who 
receive VA-administered benefits. This disclosure will also enable us 
to identify income limits of certain individuals in order to determine 
their potential eligibility for the Medicare Savings Program to 
implement a Medicare outreach program mandated by section 1144 of title 
XI of the Act.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    The legal authorities for us to conduct this computer matching are 
sections 806(b), 1144, and 1631(e)(1)(B) and (f) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 
1006(b), 1320b-14, and 1383(e)(1)(B) and (f)).
    The legal authority for VA to disclose information under this 
agreement is section 1631(f) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1383(f)), which 
requires Federal agencies to provide such information as our 
Commissioner needs for purposes of determining eligibility for or 
amount of benefits, or verifying other information with respect 
thereto.

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

1. Systems of Records
    VA will provide us with electronic files containing compensation 
and pension payment data from its system of records (SOR) entitled the 
``Compensation, Pension, Education, and Vocational Rehabilitation and 
Employment Records--VA'' (58VA21/22/28), first published at 74 FR 14865 
(April 1, 2009).
    We will match the VA data with SSI/SVB payment information 
maintained in our SOR entitled ``Supplemental Security Income Record 
and Special Veterans Benefits (SSA/OASSIS 60-0103).''
2. Number of Records
    During the 12-month period from April 2010 through March 2011, we 
received 14.3 million records from VA, of which 524,470 matched 
supplemental security records (SSR). We expect the volume of records 
received from VA to increase in the future. We estimate receiving 84 
million records annually from VA in the coming years.
3. Specified Data Elements
    We will conduct the match using the Social Security number, name, 
date of birth, and VA claim number on both the VA file and the SSR.
4. Frequency of Matching
    VA will furnish us with an electronic file containing VA 
compensation and pension payment data monthly. The actual match will 
take place approximately during the first week of every month.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program

    The effective date of this matching program is May 11, 2012; 
provided that the following notice periods have lapsed: 30 days after 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register and 40 days after 
notice of the matching program is sent to Congress and OMB. 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. 2012-18109 Filed 7-24-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P