05-3098. Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/Office of Personnel Management (OPM))-Match Number 1307

AGENCY:

Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION:

Notice of a new computer matching program.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new computer matching program that SSA will conduct with OPM.

DATES:

SSA will file a report of the subject matching program with the Committee on Homeland Security and 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 [phone] or writing to the Associate Commissioner for Income Security Programs, 245 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 Associate Commissioner for Income Security Programs as shown above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. General

The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Public Law (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 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.

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) 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 an individual's benefits or payments.

B. SSA Computer Matches Subject to the Privacy Act

We have taken action to ensure that all of SSA's computer matching programs comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act, as amended.

Dated: January 25, 2005.

Martin H. Gerry,

Deputy Commissioner for Disability and Income Security Programs.

Notice of Computer Matching Program, Social Security Administration (SSA) With the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

A. Participating Agencies:

SSA and OPM.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program:

The purpose of this matching program is to establish the conditions, terms and safeguards under which OPM agrees to the disclosure of civil service benefit and payment data to SSA. This disclosure will provide SSA with information necessary to verify an individual's self-certification of eligibility for prescription drug subsidy assistance under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA). The disclosure will also enable SSA to implement a Medicare outreach program mandated by section 1144 of title XI of the Social Security Act. Information disclosed by OPM will enable SSA to identify individuals to determine their eligibility for Medicare Savings Programs, Medicare transitional assistance prescription drug cards and subsidized Medicare prescription drug coverage and enable SSA, in turn, to identify these individuals to the States.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program:

The legal authority for SSA to conduct this matching activity is contained in section 1860D-14 (42 U.S.C. 1395w-114) and section 1144 (42 U.S.C. 1320b-14) of the Social Security Act.

D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Matching Program:

1. Specified Data Elements Used in the Match.

a. OPM will electronically furnish SSA with the following civil service benefit and payment data: name, Social Security number, civil service claim number, and amount of current gross civil service benefits.

b. SSA will match this file against the Medicare database.

2. Systems of Records.

OPM will provide SSA with a finder file containing civil service benefit and payment data from the OPM System of Records published as OPM/Central-1 (Civil Service and Insurance Records), on October 8, 1999 (64 FR 54930), as amended on May 3, 2000 (65 FR 25775). Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3), OPM has established routine uses to disclose the subject information.

SSA will match the OPM information with the electronic data from the following system of records: SSA SOR 60-0321, which is currently being developed to support the Medicare Part D subsidy computer matches.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program:

The matching program will become effective upon signing of the agreement by all 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 the 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 and may be extended for an additional 12 months thereafter, if certain conditions are met.