2023-02489. Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

AGENCY:

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

ACTION:

Notice of a new computer matching program.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides notice that it intends to conduct a recurring computer-matching program matching Social Security Administration (SSA) Master Beneficiary Records (MBRs) and the Master Files of Social Security Number (SS) Holders and SSN Applications (Enumeration System) with VA pension, compensation, and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) records. The goal of this match is to identify beneficiaries, who are receiving VA benefits and SSA benefits or earned income, and to reduce or terminate VA benefits, if appropriate. The match will include records of current VA beneficiaries. A plain-language description of the matching program.

DATES:

Comments on this matching program must be received no later than [Insert date 30 days after date of publication in the Federal Register ]. If no public comment is received during the period allowed for comment or unless otherwise published in the Federal Register by VA, the new agreement will become effective a minimum of 30 days after date of publication in the Federal Register . If VA receives public comments, VA shall review the comments to determine whether any changes to the notice are necessary. This matching program will be valid for 18 months from the effective date of this notice.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be submitted through www.Regulations.gov or mailed to VA Privacy Service, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, (005R1A), Washington, DC 20420. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to SSA's Earnings Recording and Self-Employment Income System, CMA 1050. Comments received will be available at regulations.gov for public viewing, inspection or copies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Victor Hall, [phone], [e-mail], Pension and Fiduciary Service, Front Office, Pension and Fiduciary Service (21P), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20420, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

VA will use this information to verify the income information submitted by beneficiaries in VA's needs-based benefit programs and adjust VA benefit payments as prescribed by law.

The legal authority to conduct this match is 38 U.S.C. 5106, which requires any Federal department or agency to provide VA such information as VA requests for the purposes of determining eligibility for benefits or verifying other information with respect to payment of benefits.

Participating Agencies: The Social Security Administration (SSA) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Authority for Conducting the Matching Program:38 U.S.C. 5106 requires Federal agencies to furnish VA with information the VA Secretary may request for determining eligibility for or the amount of VA benefits.

Purpose(s): To confirm eligibility of those receiving income-dependent benefits and those beneficiaries who are receiving disability compensation at the 100 percent rate because of unemployability.

Categories of Individuals: Veterans and beneficiaries who apply for VA income benefits.

Categories of Records: VA will provide SSA with an electronic file in a format defined by SSA that contains the Social Security number (SSN), name, date of birth, and report year for each applicant, beneficiary, and eligible dependent(s) for whom VA is requesting tax return information.

System(s) of Records: SSA will match the data in VA's electronic file with SSA Enumeration data from the Master Files of SSN Holders and SSN Applications (referred to as the Enumeration System), 60-0058, last fully published at 87 FR 263 (January 4, 2022). SSA will disclose matched data to VA from SSA's Earnings Recording and Self-Employment Income System (referred to as the Master Earnings File (MEF)), 60-0059, last fully published at 71 FR 1819 (January 11, 2006) and amended at 78 FR 40542 (July 5, 2013) and 83 FR 54969 (November 1, 2018).

Signing Authority

The Senior Agency Official for Privacy, or designee, approved this document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. John Oswalt, Chief Privacy Officer and Chair of the Data Integrity Board, Department of Veterans Affairs approved this document on January 30, 2023 for publication.

Dated: February 1, 2023.

Amy L. Rose,

Program Analyst, VA Privacy Service, Office of Information Security, Office of Information and Technology, Department of Veterans Affairs.