[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 85 (Monday, May 4, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24591-24592]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11713]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Privacy Act of 1974; Report of Amended Matching Program
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Notice.
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Notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
intends to conduct a recurring computer matching program matching
Social Security Administration (SSA) records with VA pension and
parents' dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) records.
The goal of this match is to compare income status as reported to
VA with records maintained by SSA.
The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to match records of
veterans and surviving spouses and children who receive pension, and
parents who receive DIC, with the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR) and
Master Earnings File (MEF) maintained by SSA.
VA will use this information to update the master records of VA
beneficiaries receiving income dependent benefits and to adjust VA
benefit payments as prescribed by law. The proposed matching program
will enable VA to ensure accurate reporting of income.
[[Page 24592]]
RECORDS TO BE MATCHED: The VA records involved in the match are the VA
system of records, Compensation, Pension, Education and Rehabilitation
Records--VA (58 VA 21/22) first published at 41 FR 9294, March 3, 1976
and last amended at 63 FR 7196, February 12, 1998. The SSA records
consist of information from SSA ``Master Beneficiary Record (MBR) 09-
60-0090,'' published at 60 FR 2144, January 6, 1995 and last amended
October 11, 1995 at 60 FR 52948 (Routine Use #24(b)). In the absence of
MBR data, SSA will attempt to verify the SSN in VA records using the
Master Earnings File (MEF) 09-60-0059,'' published at 59 FR 62407
December 5, 1994 and last amended 62 FR 11939, March 13, 1997 (Routine
Use #26). In accordance with Title 5 U.S.C. subsection 552a(o)(2) and
(r), copies of the agreement are being sent to both Houses of Congress
and to the Office of Management and Budget.
This notice is provided in accordance with the provisions of the
Privacy Act of 1974 as amended by Public Law 100-503.
The match will start no sooner than 30 days after publication of
this Notice in the Federal Register, or 40 days after copies of this
Notice and the agreement of the parties is submitted to Congress and
the Office of Management and Budget, whichever is later, and end not
more than 18 months after agreement is properly implemented by the
parties. The involved agencies' Data Integrity Boards (DIB) may extend
this match for 12 months provided the agencies certify to their DIBs,
within three months of the ending date of the original match, that the
matching program will be conducted without change and that the matching
program has been conducted in compliance with the original matching
program.
ADDRESSES: Interested individuals may submit written comments to the
Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC
20420. Comments will be available for public inspection at the above
address in the Office of Regulations Management, Room 1158, between 8
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, except holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Trowbridge (213B), (202) 273-
7218.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This information is required by Title 5
U.S.C. subsection 552a(e)(12), the Privacy Act of 1974. A copy of this
notice has been provided to both Houses of Congress and the Office of
Management and Budget.
Approved: April 22, 1998.
Togo D. West, Jr.,
Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 98-11713 Filed 5-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-M
