[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 202 (Monday, October 20, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62699-62700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-24815]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No. SSA 2014-0048]
Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE))--Match Number 1074
AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA) .
ACTION: Notice of a renewal of an existing computer matching program
that will expire on December 11, 2014.
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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 OCSE.
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
[[Page 62700]]
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 Child
Support Enforcement (OCSE)
A. Participating Agencies
SSA and OCSE
B. Purpose of the Matching Program
This computer matching agreement governs a matching program between
OCSE and us. The agreement covers the following information exchange
operations between OCSE and us from the National Directory of New Hires
(NDNH): online query access for Supplemental Security Income (SSI),
Disability Insurance (DI), and Ticket-to-Work and Self-Sufficiency
(Ticket) programs; and SSI Quarterly Wage batch match. This agreement
also governs the use, treatment, and safeguarding of the information
exchanged. This agreement assists us in (1) establishing or verifying
eligibility or payment amounts, or both under the SSI program; (2)
establishing or verifying eligibility or continuing entitlement under
the DI program; and (3) in administering the Ticket programs. We
evaluate the cost-benefits, including programmatic and operational
impact, which NDNH information has on our programs and operations.
C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program
The legal authorities for disclosures under this agreement are the
Social Security Act (Act) and the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended.
453(j)(4) of the Act provides that OCSE shall provide our Commissioner
with all information in NDNH. 42 U.S.C. 653(j)(4). We have authority to
use data to determine entitlement and eligibility for programs we
administer pursuant to 453(j)(4), 1631(e)(1)(B) and (f), and 1148(d)(1)
of the Act. 42 U.S.C. 653(j)(4), 1320b-19(d)(1), and 1383(e)(1)(B) and
(f). Disclosures under this agreement shall be made in accordance with
5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3), and in compliance with the matching procedures in
5. U.S.C. 552a(o), (p), and (r). Our Commissioner is required to verify
eligibility of a recipient or applicant for SSI using independent or
collateral sources. SSI benefits may not be determined solely based on
declarations by the applicant concerning eligibility factors or other
relevant facts. Information is also obtained, as necessary, in order to
assure that SSI benefits are only provided to eligible individuals (or
eligible spouses) and that the amounts of such benefits are correct.
1631(e)(1)(B) of the Act. Section 1631(f) of the Act provides that
``the head of any federal agency shall provide such information as our
Commissioner needs for purposes of determining eligibility for the
amount of benefits, or verifying information with respect thereto.''
Section 1148(d)(1) of the Act requires us to verify earnings of
beneficiaries/recipients to ensure accurate payments to employer
network providers under the Ticket program.
D. Categories of Records and Persons Covered by the Matching Program
We will provide electronically to OCSE the following data elements
in the finder file: individual's Social Security number (SSN) and name.
OCSE will provide electronically to us the following data elements from
the NDNH in the quarterly wage file: quarterly wage record identifier;
for employees: name, SSN, verification request code, processed date,
non-verifiable indicator, wage amount, and reporting period; for
employers of individuals in the quarterly wage file of the NDNH: name,
employer identification number, and address(es); transmitter agency
code; transmitter state code; and state or agency name. OCSE will
provide electronically to us the following data elements from the NDNH
in the unemployment insurance file: unemployment insurance record
identifier; processed date; SSN; verification request code; name;
address; unemployment insurance benefit amount; reporting period;
transmitter agency code; transmitter state code; and state or agency
name. We will us the individual's SSN to initiate an online query for
NDNH records. Data elements we can access on the NDNH quarterly wage
screen: quarterly wage record identifier; date report processed; name/
SSN verified; for employees: SSN, Name, wage amount, and reporting
period; for employers: name, employer identification number employer
FIPS code (if present) and address(es). Data elements we can access on
the NDNH new hire screen: new hire record identifier; name/SSN
verified; date report processed; for employees: SSN, name, and date of
hire; for employers: name, employer identification number, employer
FIPS code (if present) and address(es). Data elements we can access on
the NDNH unemployment insurance screen: unemployment insurance record
identifier; name/SSN verified; SSN; name; address; unemployment
insurance benefit amount; reporting period; payer state; and date
report processed.
E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program
The effective date of this matching program is December 12, 2014,
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. 2014-24815 Filed 10-17-14; 8:45 am]
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