2018-12314. 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 Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). This matching agreement sets forth the terms, safeguards, and procedures under which RRB, as the source agency, will disclose RRB annuity payment data to SSA, the recipient agency. SSA will use the information to verify Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Special Veterans Benefits (SVB) eligibility and benefit payment amounts. SSA will also record the railroad annuity amounts RRB paid to SSI and SVB recipients in the Supplemental Security Income Record (SSR).

DATES:

The deadline to submit comments on the proposed matching program is 30 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register. The matching program will be applicable on September 2, 2018 and will expire on March 1, 2020, 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:

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, G-401WHR Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401, or email at [e-mail]. All comments received will be available for public inspection by contacting Ms. Zimmerman at this street 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.

Mary Ann Zimmerman,

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

Participating Agencies: SSA and RRB.

Authority for Conducting the Matching Program: The legal authority for this agreement is executed in compliance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended by the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988, the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder. Legal authority for the disclosure under this agreement for the SSI portion are 1631(e)(1)(A) and (B) and 1631(f) of the Social Security Act (Act) (42 U.S.C. 1383(e)(1)(A) and (B) and 1383(f)). The legal authority for the disclosure under this agreement for the SVB portion is 806(b) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1006(b)).

Purpose(s): The purpose of this matching program is to set forth the terms, safeguards, and procedures under which RRB, as the source agency, will disclose RRB annuity payment data to SSA, the recipient agency. SSA will use the information to verify SSI and SVB eligibility and benefit payment amounts. SSA will also record the railroad annuity amounts RRB paid to SSI and SVB recipients in the SSR.

Categories of Individuals: The individuals whose information is involved in this matching program are applicants for and recipients of SSI payments and SVB benefits.

Categories of Records: SSA will match the Social Security number, name, date of birth, and RRB claim number on the RRB file and the SSR.

System(s) of Records: RRB will provide SSA with an electronic data file containing annuity payment data from RRB's system of records, RRB-22 Railroad Retirement, Survivor, and Pensioner Benefits System, last published on May 15, 2015 (80 FR 28018). SSA will match RRB's data with data maintained in the SSR, Supplemental Security Income Record and Special Veterans Benefits, SSA/OITPBS, 60-0103, published on January 11, 2006 (71 FR 1830) and December 10, 2007 (72 FR 69723). SVB data also resides on the SSR.