2023-18318. Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

AGENCY:

Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION:

Notice of a new matching program.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new matching program with the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, Department of the Treasury (Fiscal Service). Under this matching program, Fiscal Service will disclose ownership of Savings Securities data to SSA. This disclosure will provide SSA with information necessary to verify an individual's self-certification of his or her financial status to determine eligibility for low-income subsidy assistance (Extra Help) in the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit program established under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA).

DATES:

The deadline to submit comments on the proposed matching program is September 25, 2023.

The matching program will be applicable on October 2, 2023, or once a minimum of 30 days after publication of this notice has elapsed, whichever is later. The matching program will be in effect for a period of 18 months.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by any one of three methods—internet, fax, or mail. Do not submit the same comments multiple times or by more than one method. Regardless of which method you choose, please state that your comments refer to Docket No. SSA–2022–0066 so that we may associate your comments with the correct docket.

Caution: You should be careful to include in your comments only information that you wish to make publicly available. We strongly urge you not to include in your comments any personal information, such as Social Security numbers or medical information.

1. Internet: We strongly recommend that you submit your comments via the internet. Please visit the Federal eRulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov. Use the Search function to find docket number SSA–2022–0066 and then submit your comments. The system will issue you a tracking number to confirm your submission. You will not be able to view your comment immediately because we must post each submission manually. It may take up to a week for your comments to be viewable.

2. Fax: Fax comments to 1(833) 410–1613.

3. Mail: Matthew Ramsey, Executive Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel, Social Security Administration, G–401 WHR, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235–6401, or emailing [e-mail]. Comments are also available for public viewing on the Federal eRulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov or in person, during regular business hours, by arranging with the contact person identified below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Interested parties may submit general questions about the matching program to Cynthia Scott, Division Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel, Social Security Administration, G–401 WHR, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235–6401, at telephone: [phone], or send an email to [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

None.

Matthew Ramsey,

Executive Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel.

Participating Agencies: SSA and Fiscal Service.

Authority for conducting the matching program: The legal authority for this matching agreement between SSA and Fiscal Service is Section 1860D–14 of the Social Security Act (Act) (42 U.S.C. 1395w–114), which requires SSA to verify the eligibility of individuals who seek to be considered as Extra Help eligible individuals under the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit program and who self-certify their income, resources, and family size.

Fiscal Service and SSA execute this agreement in compliance with the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended by the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988, and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder.

Purpose(s): This agreement sets forth the terms, conditions, and safeguards under which Fiscal Service will disclose ownership of Savings Securities data to SSA. This disclosure will provide SSA with information necessary to verify an individual's self-certification of his or her financial status to determine eligibility for low-income subsidy assistance (Extra Help) in the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit program established under the MMA.^[1]

Categories of Individuals: The individuals whose information is involved in this matching program are those individuals who apply for low-income subsidy assistance in the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit program established under the MMA.

Categories of records: SSA will disclose to Fiscal Service a finder file with the Social Security number (SSN) for each individual for whom SSA requests Savings Securities ownership information. When a match occurs on an SSN, Fiscal Service will disclose the following to SSA: the denomination of the security; the serial number; the series; the issue date of the security; the current redemption value; and the return date of the finder file.

SSA will disclose to Fiscal Service a finder file with the SSN for each individual for whom it requests Savings Securities registration information. Fiscal Service bases the query on the SSN associated with the account and reports any subsequent account holdings. When a match occurs on an SSN, Fiscal Service will disclose the following to SSA: the purchase amount; the account number and confirmation number; the series; the issue date of the security; the current redemption value; and the return date of the finder file.

System(s) of Records: SSA will disclose to Fiscal Service a finder file consisting of SSNs extracted from SSA's Medicare Database (MDB) File System, 60–0321, fully published at 71 FR 42159 (July 25, 2006), as amended at 72 FR 69723 (December 10, 2007) and 83 FR 54969 (November 1, 2018). The MDB File System is a repository of Medicare applicant and beneficiary information related to Medicare Part A, Part B, Medicare Advantage Part C, and Medicare Part D.

Fiscal Service will match the SSNs from SSA's finder file with the SSNs in Fiscal Service system of records notice .014 (United States Securities and Access), fully published at 85 FR 11776 (February 27, 2020). System of records notice .014 (United States Securities and Access) is derived from legacy BPD systems of records notices .002 (United States Savings-Type Securities), .003 (United States Securities (Other than Savings-Type Securities)), and .008 (Retail Treasury Securities Access Application).

Footnotes

1.  Public Law 108–173.