[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 173 (Thursday, September 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54943-54944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21929]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No. SSA 2012-0016]


Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; Computer Matching Program 
(Social Security Administration (SSA)/Department of Veterans Affairs 
(VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA))--Match Number 1309

AGENCY: SSA.

ACTION: Notice of a renewal of an existing computer matching program 
that will expire on October 1, 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, SSA, 
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 by 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.

[[Page 54944]]

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. This disclosure will provide us with information necessary to 
verify an individual's self-certification of eligibility for the Extra 
Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs program (Extra Help). 
It will also enable us to identify individuals who may qualify for 
Extra Help.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    The legal authority for VA to disclose information under this 
agreement is 42 U.S.C. 1383(f) of the Social Security Act (Act). The 
legal authority for us to conduct this computer matching program is 
1860D-14(a)(3) (42 U.S.C. 1395w-114), and 1144(a)(1) and (b)(1) (42 
U.S.C. 1320b-14) of the Act.

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 
``Compensation, Pension, Education, and Vocational Rehabilitation and 
Employment Records-VA'' (58VA21/22/28), published at 74 FR 29275 (last 
amended April 27, 2010). Routine use 20 for VA permits the disclosure 
of this information.
    We will match the VA data with data in our Medicare Database (MDB), 
SOR 60-0321, last published at 71 FR 42159 (July 25, 2006).

2. Number of Records

    VA's data file will consist of approximately 4.9 million electronic 
records and VA will transmit it monthly. Our comparison file contains 
approximately 65 million records obtained from the MDB. The number of 
people who apply for Extra Help determines in part the number of 
records matched.

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 MDB.

4. Frequency of Matching

    VA will furnish us with an electronic file containing VA 
compensation and pension payment data monthly. The actual matching 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 October 2, 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. 2012-21929 Filed 9-5-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P