03-27356. Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; Computer Matching Program

AGENCY:

ACF, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice of a computer matching program.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended by Pub. L. 100-503, the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988, we are publishing a notice of a computer matching program. The purpose of this computer match is to identify specific individuals who are receiving payments pursuant to various benefit programs administered by both HHS and Department of Agriculture. ACF will facilitate this program on behalf of the State Public Assistance Agencies (SPAAs) that participate in the Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) for verification of continued eligibility for public assistance. The match will utilize Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) records and SPAA records.

DATES:

ACF will file a report of the subject matching program with the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of the House of Representatives, and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The dates for the matching program will be effective as indicated below.

ADDRESSES:

Interested parties may comment on this notice by writing to the Director, Office of Financial Services, Office of Administration, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447. All comments received will be available for public inspection at this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Director, Office of Financial Services, Office of Administration, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447. Telephone Number [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Pub. L. 100-503, the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988, amended the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) by adding certain protections for individuals applying for and receiving federal benefits. The law regulates the use of computer matching by federal agencies when records in a system of records are matched with other federal, state and local government records. Federal agencies which provide or receive records in computer matching programs must:

1. Negotiate written agreements with source agencies;

2. Provide notification to applicants and beneficiaries that their records are subject to matching;

3. Verify match findings before reducing, suspending, or terminating an individual's benefits or payments;

4. Furnish detailed reports to Congress and OMB; and

5. Establish a Data Integrity Board that must approve matching agreements.

This computer matching program meets the requirements of Pub. L. 100-503.

Dated: October 17, 2003.

Curtis L. Coy,

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration, ACF.

Notice of Computer Matching Program

A. Participating Agencies

VA and the SPAAs.

B. Purpose of the Match

To identify specific individuals who are receiving benefits from VA and also receiving payments pursuant to HHS and Department of Agriculture benefit programs, and to verify their continued eligibility for such benefits. SPAAs will contact affected individuals and seek to verify the information resulting from the match before initiating any adverse actions based on the match results.

C. Authority for Conducting the Match

The authority for conducting the matching program is contained in section 402 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 602).

D. Records to be Matched

VA will disclose records from its Privacy Act system of records entitled “Compensation, Pension, Education and Rehabilitation Records” (58 VA 21/22 first published at 41 FR 9294 (March 3, 1976), and last amended at 66 FR 47727 (September 13, 2001)). VA's disclosure of information for use in this computer match is listed as a routine use in this system of records.

VA, as the source agency, will prepare electronic files containing the names and other personal identifying data of eligible veterans receiving benefits. These records are matched electronically against SPAA files consisting of data regarding monthly Medicaid, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), general assistance, and Food Stamp beneficiaries.

1. The electronic files provided by the SPAAs will contain client names and Social Security numbers (SSNs).

2. The resulting output returned to the SPAAs will contain personal identifiers, including names, SSNs, employers, current work or home addresses, etc.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program

The effective date of the matching agreement and date when matching may actually begin shall be at the expiration of the 40-day review period for OMB and Congress, or 30 days after publication of the matching notice in the Federal Register, whichever date is later. The matching program will be in effect for 18 months from the effective date, with an option to renew for 12 additional months, unless one of the parties to the agreement advises the others by written request to terminate or modify the agreement.