[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1805-1806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-364]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Privacy Act of 1974; Report of Matching Program
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Notice of a computer-matching program.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with subsection (e)(12) of the Privacy Act of
1974, as amended, (5 U.S.C. 552a) this notice announces that the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), recipient agency, intends to
conduct a recurring computer-matching program with the Office of
Personnel Management (OPM), source agency.
The VA will match pension and parents' dependency and indemnity
compensation (DIC) records with OPM recipient records. The goal of this
match is to compare income status as reported to VA with benefit
records maintained by OPM. The authority to conduct this match is 38
U.S.C. 5106.
DATES: VA will file a report of the subject matching agreement with the
Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; the
House Committee on Government Reform; and the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OBM). The matching
program will be effective as indicated in this notice.
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted through http://
www.Regulations.gov; by mail or hand-delivery to the Director,
Regulations Management (00REG), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810
Vermont Ave., NW., Room 1068, Washington, DC 20420; or by fax to (202)
273-9026. Copies of comments received will be available for public
inspection in the Office of Regulation Policy and Management, Room
1063B, between the hours of 8 a.m., and 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday (except holidays). Please call (202) 273-9515 for an
appointment. In addition, during the comment period, comments may be
viewed online through the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Liverman (212C), (202) 273-
7280.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to subsection (o) of the Privacy
Act of 1974, as amended, (5 U.S.C. 552a), OPM and VA have determined
that a computer matching agreement is the most cost effective and
efficient way to verify statements of applicants and recipients.
VA has an obligation to verify the income information submitted by
individuals in receipt of income-dependent benefits. Title 38 U.S.C.
5106 requires that Federal agencies disclose this information to VA
upon request. By comparing the information received through the
matching program between VA and OPM on a recurring basis, VA will be
able to make timely and more accurate adjustments in the benefits
payable.
A. Participating Agencies
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management and the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs.
B. Purpose of the Match
The purpose of the matching agreement is to identify beneficiaries
receiving VA income dependent benefits and OPM benefits, to update VA's
master records and adjust VA income dependent benefit payments as
prescribed by law. This agreement reflects both agencies'
responsibilities under the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) and the
regulations promulgated.
C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program
The authority to conduct this match is 38 U.S.C. 5106.
D. Records to Be Matched
The VA records involved in the match are the VA system of records,
Compensation, Pension and Education and Rehabilitation Records--VA (58
VA 21/22), first published at 41 FR 9294 (March 3, 1976), and last
amended at 70 FR 34186 (June 13, 2005), with other amendments as cited
therein.
The OPM records consist of information from the OPM Civil Service
Retirement Pay File identified as OPM Central-1, Civil Service
Retirement and
[[Page 1806]]
Insurance Records, published at 60 FR 63081, December 8, 1995, and last
amended on May 3, 2000, at 65 FR 25775.
E. Description of Computer Matching Program
VA plans to match records of veterans and surviving spouses and
children who receive pension, and parents who receive DIC, with benefit
records maintained by OPM. The match with OPM will provide VA with data
from OPM civil service benefit records.
VA will provide OPM with a tape, which contains the names, VA claim
numbers, social security numbers, verification codes and VA regional
office identifiers for all individuals in receipt of income-dependent
benefits. OPM will return a tape to VA, which contains information on
OPM payment amounts and the surnames in OPM's records that match the
names and social security numbers provided by VA.
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. Otherwise, information about a
VA beneficiary's income is obtained only from reporting by the
beneficiary. The proposed matching program will enable VA to ensure
accurate reporting of income.
F. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program
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 the 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.
This computer-matching program is subject to public comment and
review by Congress and the Office of Management and Budget. 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.
Approved: December 19, 2006.
Gordon H. Mansfield,
Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. E7-364 Filed 1-12-07; 8:45 am]
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