[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 226 (Tuesday, November 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64981-64982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31279]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program (SSA/Department of
the Treasury, Bureau of the Public Debt (BPD))--Match Number 1038
AGENCY: Social Security Administration.
ACTION: Notice of computer matching program.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as
amended, this notice announces a computer matching program that SSA
plans to conduct with BPD.
DATES: SSA 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, 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
telefax to (410) 966-0869 or writing to the Associate Commissioner for
Program Support, 4400 West High Rise Building, 6401 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, MD 21235. All comments received will be available for public
inspection at this address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Associate Commissioner for Program
Support as shown above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. General
The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Pub. L.
(Pub. L.) 100-503) amended the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) by
establishing the conditions under which computer matching involving the
Federal Government could be performed and adding certain protections
for individuals 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
individuals.
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. Among other
things, 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 (DIB) of the participating Federal Agencies;
(3) Furnish detailed reports about matching programs to Congress
and OMB;
(4) Notify applicants and beneficiaries that their records are
subject to matching; and
(5) Verify match findings before reducing, suspending, terminating
or denying an individual's benefits or payments.
B. SSA Computer Matches Subject to the Privacy Act
We have taken action to ensure that this computer matching program
complies with the requirements of the Privacy Act, as amended.
Dated: November 12, 1998.
Kenneth S. Apfel,
Commissioner of Social Security.
Notice of Computer Matching Program, Social Security Administration
(SSA) With the Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Public Debt
(BPD)
A. Participating Agencies
SSA and BPD.
B. Purpose of the Matching Program
The purpose of this matching program is to establish conditions and
procedures for BPD's disclosure of certain savings bond information
useful to SSA in verifying eligibility and payment amounts of
individuals under the supplemental security income (SSI) program. The
SSI program was created under title XVI of the Social Security Act (the
Act) to provide benefits under the rules of that title to individuals
with income and resources below levels established by law and
regulations.
C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program
Sections 1631(e)(1)(B) and (f) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1383(e)(1)(B)
and (f)).
D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Match
SSA will provide BPD with a finder file, extracted from SSA's
Supplemental Security Income Record System, containing Social Security
numbers of individuals who have applied for or receive SSI payments.
This information will be matched with BPD files in BPD's savings bond
registration system of records (United States savings-type securities)
and a reply file of matched records will be furnished to SSA. Upon
receipt of BPD's reply file, SSA will match identifying information
from the BPD file with SSA's records to determine preliminarily whether
the data pertain to the relevant SSI applicant or recipient before
beginning the process of verifying bond ownership and taking any
necessary benefit actions.
E. Inclusive Dates of the Match
The matching program shall become effective upon signing of the
agreement by both parties to the agreement and approval of the
agreement by the Data Integrity Boards of the respective agencies, but
no sooner than 40 days after notice of this matching program is sent to
Congress and the Office of Management and Budget, or 30 days after
publication of this notice in the Federal Register, whichever date is
later.
The matching program will continue for 18 months from the effective
date
[[Page 64982]]
and may be extended for an additional 12 months thereafter, if certain
conditions are met.
[FR Doc. 98-31279 Filed 11-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4190-29-P
