03-4999. Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/Office of Personnel Management (OPM))-Matches 1005, 1019, 1020, 1021

AGENCY:

Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION:

Notice of the renewal of an existing computer matching program which is scheduled to expire on April 6, 2003.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces the renewal of an existing computer matching program that SSA is currently conducting with OPM.

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 of the House of Representatives; and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The renewal of 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, Office of Income Security Programs, 760 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 Office of 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 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. 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 Data Integrity Boards' approval of the match agreements;

(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: February 25, 2003.

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

This matching program will have four separate components. The purposes of each of these parts are as follows:

SSA Match 1005: OPM records will be used in a matching program where SSA will match OPM's data with SSA's records to verify the accuracy of information furnished by applicants and recipients concerning eligibility factors for the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Special Veterans' Benefits (SVB) programs. The SSI program provides payments to individuals who have income and resources below levels established by law and regulations, and the SVB program provides special benefits to certain World War II veterans.

SSA Match 1019: SSA will match OPM's records of civil service disability benefit and payment data with SSA's records of Social Security disability insurance benefits to identify disability insurance beneficiaries whose benefits should be reduced under the Social Security Act because the disabled worker is receiving a civil service disability annuity benefit. SSA will match the OPM data to verify information provided (or identify such information that should have been provided) by the disabled worker at the time of initially applying for Social Security benefits and on a continuous basis to ensure any reduction in Social Security disability benefits is based on the current civil service disability benefit amount.

SSA Match 1020: OPM records will be used in a matching program where SSA will match OPM's civil service benefit and payment data with SSA's records for disabled and retired annuitants. These annuitants may be subject to the use of a modified benefit computation formula used by SSA under the Social Security Act for certain persons who receive both a civil service benefit and a Social Security retirement or disability benefit. SSA will use the OPM data to verify the pension or annuity information provided (or identify such information that should have been provided) directly to SSA by the retirees/annuitants.

SSA Match 1021: SSA will match OPM's civil service benefit and payment data with SSA's records of beneficiaries receiving Social Security spouse's benefits which are subject to reduction under the Social Security Act when the beneficiary is also receiving a government pension based on employment not covered under that Act. SSA will match the OPM data to verify information provided (or identify such information that should have been provided) by the SSA beneficiary at the time of initially applying for Social Security benefits and on a continuing basis to ensure that any reduction in Social Security benefits is based on the current pension amount.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

SSA Match 1005: Section 1631 (e)(1)(B) and (f) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1383 (e)(1)(B) and (f)] for the SSI program; section 806 of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1006] for the SVB program.

SSA Match 1019: Section 224 of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 424a].

SSA Match 1020: Sections 215 (a)(7) and 215(d)(3) of the Social Security Act [(42 U.S.C. 415 (a)(7) and 415(d)(3)].

SSA Match 1021: Section 202 (b)(4)(A), (c)(2)(A), (e)(7)(a), (f)(2)(A), and (g)(4)(A) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 402 (b)(4)(A), (c)(2)(A), (e)(7)(A), (f)(2)(A) and (g)(4)(A)].

D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Match

OPM will provide SSA with an electronic file extracted from OPM's Annuity and Survivor Master File. The extracted file will contain information about each new annuitant and annuitants whose pension amount has changed. Each record on the OPM file will be matched to SSA's Master Beneficiary Record or Supplemental Security Income and Special Veterans' Benefits Record for the purposes described above in Section B.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Match

The matching program shall become effective upon the 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 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.