01-9577. Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Public Debt (BPD))-Match Number 1038

AGENCY:

Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION:

Notice of computer matching program.

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 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 Acting Associate Commissioner for Program Support, 2-Q-16 Operations 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 Acting Associate Commissioner for Program Support 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 manner in which computer matching involving Federal agencies 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) 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 all of SSA's computer matching programs comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act, as amended.

Dated: April 3, 2001.

Glenna Donnelly,

Acting Deputy Commissioner for Disability and Income Security Programs.

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 Matching Program

SSA will provide BPD with a finder file extracted from SSA's Supplemental Security Income Record system of records, 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 Matching Program

The matching program will 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 and may be extended for an additional 12 months thereafter, if certain conditions are met.