[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 51 (Friday, March 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16564-16565]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-05977]
[[Page 16564]]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No. SSA 2012-0073]
Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
Office of Personnel Management (OPM))--Match Numbers 1005, 1019, 1020,
and 1021
AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).
ACTION: Notice of a renewal of existing computer matching programs that
will expire on April 12, 2013.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as
amended, this notice announces renewals of existing computer matching
programs that we are currently conducting with OPM.
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, Social
Security Administration, 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, as shown above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. General
The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Public
Law (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.
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.
Kirsten J. Moncada,
Executive Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the
General Counsel.
Notice of Computer Matching Program, SSA With the Office of Personnel
Management (OPM)
A. Participating Agencies
SSA and OPM
B. Purpose of the Matching Program
The purpose of this matching program is to set forth the terms,
conditions, and safeguards under OPM will disclose civil service
benefit and payment data to us. We are legally required to offset
specific benefits by a percentage of civil service benefits received
(Spousal and Survivors benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
benefits, and Disability Insurance Benefits are offset by a percentage
of the recipients own federal government pension benefits). We
administer the Old Age, Survivors, Disability Insurance (OASDI), SSI,
and Special Veterans' Benefits (SVB) programs. We will use the match
results under this agreement to meet our civil service benefit offset
obligations. Appendices A, B, C, and D of this agreement contain
specific information on the matching programs that we will conduct
under this agreement.
This agreement is executed in compliance with the Privacy Act of
1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended by the Computer Matching and Privacy
Protection Act of 1998, and the regulations and guidance promulgated
thereunder.
C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program
The legal authority for SSA to conduct this matching activity for
SSI purposes is in section 1631(e)(1)(B) and (f) of the Social Security
Act (Act) (42 U.S.C. 1383(e)(1)(B) and (f)) and for the SVB purposes is
in section 806 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1006). Section 224 of the Act (42
U.S.C. 424a) provides for the reduction of Social Security disability
benefits when the disabled worker is also entitled to a Public
Disability Benefit.
Section 1631(f) of the Act requires Federal agencies to furnish us
with information necessary to verify eligibility, and section 224(h)(1)
of the Act requires any Federal agency to provide us with information
in its possession that we may require for the purposes of making a
timely determination of the amount of reduction under section 224 of
the Act.
D. Categories of Records and Persons Covered by the Matching Program
OPM will provide us with an electronic file containing civil
service benefit and payment data from the annuity and survivor master
file. The Federal Register designation for the OPM file is OPM/
Central--1 Civil Service Retirement and Insurance Records. Pursuant to
5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3), OPM established routine uses to disclose the
subject information to us.
Each record on the OPM file will be matched for Social Security
Number (SSN) verification to our Master Files of SSN Holders and SSN
Applications. The Federal Register designation for the SSA file is
Master Files of SSN Holders and SSN Applications, SSA/OSR, 60-0058.
Those records verified will then be matched to our SSI and SVB payment
information maintained in the Social Security record (SSR) and SVB. The
Federal Register designation for the SSA file is SSR and SVB, SSA/OSR,
60-0103.
E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program
The effective date for these matching programs is April 13, 2013,
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 programs will continue for 18 months from the effective date
and, if both agencies meet certain
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conditions, they may extend for an additional 12 months thereafter.
[FR Doc. 2013-05977 Filed 3-14-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P