[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 160 (Friday, August 17, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49849-49851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20204]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No. SSA 2012-0021]


Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE))--Match Number 1306

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice of a renewal of an existing computer-matching program 
that will expire on September 30, 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 OCSE.

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

[[Page 49850]]

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, as shown above.

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 conditions under which computer matching involving the 
Federal government could be performed, and adding certain protections 
for persons 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 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 the 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 Office of Child 
Support Enforcement (OCSE)

A. Participating Agencies

    SSA and OCSE.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    The purpose of this matching program is for the Department of 
Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, 
Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) to provide us with quarterly 
wage (QW) and unemployment insurance (UI) information from the National 
Directory of New Hires (NDNH) to allow us to determine eligibility of 
applicants for Extra Help (low-income subsidy assistance) under the 
Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 
(Public Law 108-173). This Agreement also governs the use, treatment, 
and safeguarding of the information exchanged. OCSE is the ``source 
agency'' and we are the ``recipient agency,'' as defined by the Privacy 
Act. 5 U.S.C. 552a(a)(9) and (11).
    This Agreement assists us (1) in determining eligibility of 
applicants for Extra Help; (2) in re-determining eligibility of 
existing Extra Help beneficiaries during periodic screening; and (3) in 
administering the Extra Help program.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    The legal authority for disclosures under this Agreement are the 
Social Security Act (Act) and the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. 
Section 453(j)(4) of the Act provides that OCSE shall provide the 
Commissioner of Social Security with all information in the NDNH. 42 
U.S.C. 653(j)(4). We have authority to use data to determine 
entitlement and eligibility for the programs we administer pursuant to 
sections 453(j)(4), 1631(f), and 1860D-14(a)(3) of the Act. 42 U.S.C. 
653(j)(4), 1386(f), and 1395w-114. Disclosures under this Agreement 
shall be made in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3), and in compliance 
with the matching procedures in 5 U.S.C. 552a(o), (p), and (r).
    Section 1860D-14(a)(3)(B) of the Act provides that ``[t]he 
determination of whether a part D eligible individual residing in a 
State is a subsidy eligible individual * * * shall be determined under 
the State plan under title XIX for the State under section 1935(a) or 
by the Commissioner of Social Security.'' 42 U.S.C. 1395w-114(a)(3)(B).

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

    OCSE and us published notice of the relevant Systems of Records 
(SORs) in the Federal Register.
    We have independent authority to collect this information via 
sections 202 through 205, 223, 226, 228, 1611, 1631, 1818, 1836, 1839, 
1840, and 1860D-1-1860D-15 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 402 through 405, 423, 
426, 428, 1382, 1383, 1395i-2, 1395o, 1395r-1, 1395s, and 1395w-101-
1395w-115). We collect and maintain this information in the Medicare 
Database (MDB) SORs, No. 60-0321, published at 69 FR 77816 (December 
28, 2004) and 71 FR 42159-42164 (July 25, 2006). The MDB contains 
information related to Medicare Part A, Part B, Medicare Advantage Part 
C, and Medicare Part D.
    OCSE will match our information in the MDB against the NDNH. The 
NDNH contains new hire, QW, and UI information furnished by state and 
Federal agencies and is maintained by OCSE in its system of records 
``OCSE National Directory of New Hires'' (NDNH), No. 09-80-0381, 
established by publication at 76 FR 560 (January 5, 2011). Routine use 
9 of the SOR authorizes disclosure of NDNH information to SSA.
    We will provide OCSE the following data elements electronically in 
the finder file:
     Client's Own Social Security Number (COSSN), (SSN) and
     Name.
    OCSE will provide us with the following data elements 
electronically from the NDNH:
    a. Quarterly Wage File:
     QW record identifier,
     For employees:
    (1) Name (first, middle, last),
    (2) Address(es),
    (3) Wage amount, and
    (4) Reporting period.
     For employers of individuals in the QW file of the NDNH:
    (1) Name,
    (2) Federal (or State, if no Federal) Employer Identification 
Number (EIN),
    (3) Employer Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) code 
(if present), and
    (4) Address(es).
    b. Unemployment Insurance File:
     UI record identifier,
     Name (first, middle, last),
     Address,
     UI benefit amount, and
     Reporting period.

[[Page 49851]]

    Data Elements we update in the OCSE Financial Items (OCSEFITM) 
table, if there is a match:
     QW record identifier,
     For employees:
    (1) Employee's SSN,
    (2) Employee's wage amount, and
    (3) Reporting period.
     For employers of individuals:
    (1) Federal (or State, if no Federal) EIN,
    (2) UI record identifier,
    (3) Claimant SSN,
    (4) UI benefit amount,
    (5) Reporting period, and
    (6) Employer's name.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program

    The effective date of this matching program is October 1, 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. 2012-20204 Filed 8-16-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P