[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 231 (Friday, December 1, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 61687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-29338]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program; Notice
AGENCY: Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of Computer Matching Programs to comply with Public Law
(Pub. L.) 100-503, the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of
1988.
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SUMMARY: Section 484(p) of title IV of the Higher Education Act of
1965, as amended (HEA) requires the Secretary of Education, in
cooperation with the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration
(SSA), to verify any social security number (SSN) provided by an
applicant for student financial assistance. Section 484(g) of the HEA
authorizes the Secretary to verify statements provided by title IV
applicants with regard to their citizenship and immigration status,
using an automated or other system of verification.
In order to ensure that applicants for title IV student financial
assistance have a valid SSN and citizenship status for the purpose of
meeting eligibility requirements under the title IV programs, the
Department of Education (ED) and the SSA will exchange relevant
verifying information using a computer matching program. The purpose of
this notice is to announce the operation of the computer matching
program and to provide certain required information concerning the
computer matching program.
In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) as
amended by the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988
(Pub. L. 100-503), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines
on the Conduct of Matching Programs (see 54 FR at 25818, June 19,
1989), and OMB Circular A-130, the following information is provided:
1. Names of Participating Agencies
The Department of Education and the Social Security Administration.
2. Purpose of the Match
Section 484(p) of the HEA requires ED to verify the SSN provided by
any applicant for assistance under title IV of that Act. Section 484(g)
of the HEA authorizes the Secretary to verify statements provided by
title IV applicants with regard to their citizenship and immigration
status using an automated or other system, with other Federal agencies
that may be in possession of information relevant to such statements
and supporting documentation.
The purpose of this new matching program is to expand ED's matching
program that verifies the accuracy of each applicant's SSN. The
expanded matching program will further verify the accuracy of applicant
claims of U.S. citizenship. The new match will supplement the
Department's ability to track title IV loan defaulters using SSNs, by
preventing disbursements of title IV assistance to applicants whose
citizenship status do not comply with the requirements of section
484(a)(5) of the HEA.
3. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program
Sections 484 (g) and (p) of the HEA; Section 1106(a) of the Social
Security Act.
4. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Match
ED will submit for verification from its Central Processing Systems
files the SSN and other identifying information for each applicant for
title IV assistance. This information will be matched against the SSA
Numident, which contains the SSN, citizenship status and identifying
information for all SSN holders.
5. Effective Dates of the Matching Program
The matching program will become effective 40 days after a copy of
the agreement, as approved by the Data Integrity Board of each agency,
is sent to Congress and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) (or
later if OMB objects to some or all of the agreement), or 30 days after
publication of this notice in the Federal Register, whichever date is
later. The matching program will continue for 18 months after the
effective date and may be extended for an additional 12 months
thereafter, if the conditions specified in 5 U.S.C. 522a(o)(2)(D) have
been met.
6. Address for Receipt of Public Comments or Inquiries
Individuals wishing to comment on this matching program or obtain
additional information about the program including a copy of the
computer matching agreement between ED and SSA should contact Ms. Edith
Bell, Program Specialist, Policy Development Division, U.S. Department
of Education, 600 Independence Avenue SW, (Room 3053, ROB-3),
Washington, DC 20202, Telephone (202) 708-7888.
Written comments should be submitted to Ms. Bell at this address.
Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
Dated: November 27, 1995.
David A. Longanecker,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 95-29338 Filed 11-30-95; 8:45 am]
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