2017-08039. 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 computer matching program that we are currently conducting with VA/VBA.

DATES:

The deadline to submit comments on the proposed matching program is 30 days from the date of publication of this notice. The matching program will be effective on May 11, 2017 and will expire on November 10, 2018.

ADDRESSES:

Interested parties may comment on this notice by either telefaxing to [phone], writing to Mary Ann Zimmerman, Acting Executive Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel, Social Security Administration, 617 Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401, or email at [e-mail]. All comments received will be available for public inspection at this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Interested parties may submit general questions about the matching program to Mary Ann Zimmerman, Acting Executive Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel, by any of the means shown above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (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 persons 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 persons.

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 approval of the matching agreement by the Data Integrity Boards 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 a person's benefits or payments.

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

Mary Ann Zimmerman,

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

PARTICIPATING AGENCIES:

SSA and VA/VBA

AUTHORITY FOR CONDUCTING THE MATCHING PROGRAM:

This agreement is executed in compliance with section 1106 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1306), 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.

The legal authorities for us to conduct this computer matching are sections 806(b), 1144, and 1631(e)(1)(B) and (f) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1006(b), 1320b-14, and 1383(e)(1)(B) and (f)).

The legal authority for VA to disclose information under this agreement is section 1631(f) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1383(f)), which requires Federal agencies to provide such information as the Commissioner of Social Security needs for purposes of determining eligibility for or amount of benefits, or verifying other information with respect thereto.

PURPOSE:

This computer matching agreement sets forth the terms, conditions, and safeguards under which VA/VBA will provide us with information necessary to: (1) Identify certain Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Special Veterans Benefit (SVB) recipients under Title XVI and Title VIII of the Social Security Act (Act), respectively, who receive VA-administered benefits; (2) determine the eligibility or amount of payment for SSI and SVB recipients; and (3) identify the income of individuals who may be eligible for Medicare cost-sharing assistance through the Medicare Savings Programs as part of the agency's Medicare outreach efforts.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS:

The individuals whose information is involved in this matching program are those individuals who are receiving VA compensation or pension benefits and SSI or SVB benefits.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS:

VA will provide us with electronic files containing compensation and pension payment data. We will match the VA data with our SSI/SVB payment information. We will conduct the match using the Social Security number, name, date of birth, and VA claim number on both the VA file and the Supplemental Security Record.

SYSTEMS OF RECORDS:

VA will provide us with electronic files containing compensation and pension payment data from its system of records (SOR) entitled the “Compensation, Pension, Education, and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Records—VA” (58VA21/22/28), republished with updated name at 74 FR 14865 (April 1, 2009) and last amended at 77 FR 42593 (July 19, 2012). Routine use 20 of 58VA21/22/28 permits disclosure of the subject records for matching purposes.

We will match the VA data with SSI/SVB payment information maintained in our SOR entitled “Supplemental Security Income Record and Special Veterans Benefits” (60-0103), last published at 71 FR 1830 (January 11, 2006).