[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 173 (Thursday, September 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54943-54944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21929]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No. SSA 2012-0016]
Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; Computer Matching Program
(Social Security Administration (SSA)/Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA))--Match Number 1309
AGENCY: SSA.
ACTION: Notice of a renewal of an existing computer matching program
that will expire on October 1, 2012.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as
amended, this notice announces a renewal of an existing computer
matching program that we are currently conducting with VA/VBA.
DATES: We will file a report of the subject matching program with the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of
Representatives; and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The matching program will be
effective as indicated below.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties may comment on this notice by either
telefaxing to (410) 966-0869 or writing to the Executive Director,
Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel, SSA,
617 Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-
6401. All comments received will be available for public inspection at
this address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Executive Director, Office of
Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel, SSA, as shown
above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. General
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 by 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 the 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.
[[Page 54944]]
B. SSA Computer Matches Subject to the Privacy Act
We have taken action to ensure that all of our computer matching
programs comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act, as amended.
Dawn S. Wiggins,
Acting Executive Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of
the General Counsel.
Notice of Computer Matching Program, SSA with the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA).
A. Participating Agencies
SSA and VA/VBA.
B. Purpose of the Matching Program
The purpose of this matching program is to establish the conditions
under which VA will disclose VA compensation and pension payment data
to us. This disclosure will provide us with information necessary to
verify an individual's self-certification of eligibility for the Extra
Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs program (Extra Help).
It will also enable us to identify individuals who may qualify for
Extra Help.
C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program
The legal authority for VA to disclose information under this
agreement is 42 U.S.C. 1383(f) of the Social Security Act (Act). The
legal authority for us to conduct this computer matching program is
1860D-14(a)(3) (42 U.S.C. 1395w-114), and 1144(a)(1) and (b)(1) (42
U.S.C. 1320b-14) of the Act.
D. Categories of Records and Persons Covered by the Matching Program
1. Systems of Records
VA will provide us with electronic files containing compensation
and pension payment data from its system of records (SOR) entitled
``Compensation, Pension, Education, and Vocational Rehabilitation and
Employment Records-VA'' (58VA21/22/28), published at 74 FR 29275 (last
amended April 27, 2010). Routine use 20 for VA permits the disclosure
of this information.
We will match the VA data with data in our Medicare Database (MDB),
SOR 60-0321, last published at 71 FR 42159 (July 25, 2006).
2. Number of Records
VA's data file will consist of approximately 4.9 million electronic
records and VA will transmit it monthly. Our comparison file contains
approximately 65 million records obtained from the MDB. The number of
people who apply for Extra Help determines in part the number of
records matched.
3. Specified Data Elements
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 MDB.
4. Frequency of Matching
VA will furnish us with an electronic file containing VA
compensation and pension payment data monthly. The actual matching will
take place approximately during the first week of every month.
E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program
The effective date of this matching program is October 2, 2012,
provided that the following notice periods have lapsed: 30 days after
publication of this notice in the Federal Register and 40 days after
notice of the matching program is sent to Congress and OMB. The
matching program will continue for 18 months from the effective date
and may be extended for an additional 12 months thereafter, if certain
conditions are met.
[FR Doc. 2012-21929 Filed 9-5-12; 8:45 am]
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