2024-22768. Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

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Social Security Administration

1. [Docket No. SSA-2024-0004]

AGENCY:

Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION:

Notice of a new matching program.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new matching program with the Department of Labor (DOL). Under this matching program, DOL will disclose the DOL-administered Part C Black Lung (BL) benefit data to SSA. SSA will match DOL's Part C BL data with SSA's records of persons receiving Social Security disability benefits to verify that Part C BL beneficiaries are receiving the correct amount of Social Security disability benefits.

DATES:

Submit comments on the proposed matching program on or before November 4, 2024.

The matching program will be effective on November 4, 2024, or once a minimum of 30 days after publication of this notice has elapsed, whichever is later. The matching program will be in effect for a period of 18 months.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by any one of three methods—internet, fax, or mail. Do not submit the same comments multiple times or by more than one method. Regardless of which method you choose, please state that your comments refer to Docket No. SSA-2024-0004 so that we may associate your comments with the correct regulation. CAUTION: You ( print page 80622) should be careful to include in your comments only information that you wish to make publicly available. We strongly urge you not to include in your comments any personal information, such as Social Security numbers or medical information.

1. internet: We strongly recommend that you submit your comments via the internet. Please visit the Federal eRulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov. Use the Search function to find docket number SSA-2024-0004 and then submit your comments. The system will issue you a tracking number to confirm your submission. You will not be able to view your comment immediately because we must post each submission manually. It may take up to a week for your comments to be viewable.

2. Fax: Fax comments to [phone].

3. Mail: Matthew Ramsey, Executive Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel, Social Security Administration, 4th Floor Altmeyer, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401, or emailing [e-mail]. Comments are also available for public viewing on the Federal eRulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov or in person, during regular business hours, by arranging with the contact person identified below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Interested parties may submit general questions about the matching program to Cynthia Scott, Division Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401, at telephone: [phone], or send an email to [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

None.

Matthew Ramsey,

Executive Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel.

Participating Agencies

SSA and DOL.

Authority For Conducting The Matching Program

The legal authority for this agreement is section 224(h)(1) of the Social Security Act (Act), 42 U.S.C. 424a(h)(1). This legal authority requires any Federal agency to provide SSA with information in its possession that SSA may require for making a timely determination of the amount of reduction required under section 224 of the Act for workers' compensation offset.

Purpose(s)

This agreement sets forth the terms and conditions under which DOL will disclose the DOL-administered Part C BL benefit data to SSA. SSA will match DOL's Part C BL data with SSA's records of persons receiving Social Security disability benefits to verify that Part C BL beneficiaries are receiving the correct amount of Social Security disability benefits.

Categories of Individuals

The individuals whose information is involved in this matching program are those individuals who are receiving Part C BL benefits and Social Security disability benefits.

Categories of Records

DOL's monthly extract file will contain each Part C BL beneficiary's Social Security number (SSN), name, date of birth, date of entitlement, payment status, current benefit amount, and effective date of the current benefit amount. SSA will determine which of the beneficiaries are receiving Social Security disability benefits and match the DOL data against the SSN, type of action code, and offset type for those beneficiaries in SSA's Master Beneficiary Record (MBR).

System(S) of Records

SSA will match the DOL extract file against the MBR, 60-0090, last fully published at 71 FR 1826 (January 11, 2006), as amended at 72 FR 69723 (December 10, 2007), 78 FR 40542 (July 5, 2013), 83 FR 31250-31251 (July 3, 2018), 83 FR 54969 (November 1, 2018), and 89 FR 825 (January 5, 2024). DOL's extract file is from DOL's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP), BL Benefit Payments file, DOL/OWCP-9, last fully published at 81 FR 25765 (April 29, 2016).