[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 20, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51264-51265]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20214]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No. SSA 2013-0022]
Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
Department of the Treasury/Internal Revenue Service (IRS))--Match
Number 1016
AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).
ACTION: Notice of a renewal of an existing computer matching program
that will expire on June 30, 2013.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 IRS.
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 Department of the
Treasury/Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
A. Participating Agencies
SSA and IRS
B. Purpose of the Matching Program
The purpose of this matching program is to set forth the terms
under which IRS will disclose to us certain return information for use
in verifying eligibility for, and the correct amount of, benefits
provided under title XVI of the Social Security Act (Act) to qualified
aged, blind, and disabled individuals; and Federally administered
supplementary payments as described in section 1616(a) of the Act
(including payments pursuant to an agreement entered into under section
212(a) of Public Law (Pub. L.) 93-66).
C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program
The legal authority is Public Law 98-369, Deficit Reduction Act of
1984, which requires agencies administering certain Federally-assisted
benefit programs to use certain information to ensure proper
distribution of benefit payments.
6103(l)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 6103(l)(7))
authorizes IRS to disclose return information with respect to unearned
income to Federal,
[[Page 51265]]
State and local agencies administering certain Federally-assisted
benefit programs under the Act.
1631(e)(1)(B) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1383(e)(1)(B)) requires
verification of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) eligibility and
benefit amounts with independent or collateral sources. This section of
the Act also provides that the ``Commissioner of Social Security shall,
as may be necessary, request and utilize information available pursuant
to 6103(l)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986'' for purposes of
Federally administered supplementary payments of the type described in
1616(a) of the Act (including payments pursuant to an agreement entered
into under 212(a) of Pub. L. 93-66).
The legal authority for the disclosure of our data under this
agreement is 1106 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1306), (b)(3) of the Privacy
Act (5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3)), and the regulations and guidance promulgated
under these provisions.
D. Categories of Records and Persons Covered by the Matching Program
SSA will provide IRS with identifying information with respect to
applicants for and recipients of title XVI benefits as described in
Section I.B. of this agreement from the Supplemental Security Income
Record and Special Veterans Benefit (SSR), SSA/OASSIS 60-0103, as
published at 71 FR 1795 (January 11, 2006).
SSA will disclose certain information to IRS on aged, blind, or
disabled individuals who are applicants for or recipients of SSI
benefits and/or Federally-administered State supplementary payments.
IRS will match SSA's information with its Information Return Master
File (IRMF) and disclose to SSA return information with respect to
unearned income of applicants or recipients identified by SSA. The
information IRS discloses to SSA is limited to unearned income reported
on information returns.
IRS will extract return information with respect to unearned income
from the IRMF, Treas./IRS 22.061, as published at 77 FR 47946-947
(August 10, 2012), through the Disclosure of Information to Federal,
State and Local Agencies (DIFSLA) program.
E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program
The effective date of this matching program is July 1, 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 program will continue for 18 months from the effective date
and, if both agencies meet certain conditions, it may extend for an
additional 12 months thereafter.
[FR Doc. 2013-20214 Filed 8-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P