| Publication Date: March 2003 FRPart: |
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Page Numbers: 10296-10297
Notice of the renewal of an existing computer matching program which is scheduled to expire on April 6, 2003.
Posted on 03-04-2003
[Federal Register: March 4, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 42)]
[Notices]
[Page 10296-10297]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04mr03-125]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
Office of Personnel Management (OPM))--Matches 1005, 1019, 1020, 1021
AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).
ACTION: Notice of the renewal of an existing computer matching program
which is scheduled to expire on April 6, 2003.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as
amended, this notice announces the renewal of an existing computer
matching program that SSA is currently conducting with OPM.
DATES: SSA will file a report of the subject matching program with the
Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate; the Committee on
Government Reform of the House of Representatives; and the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget
(OMB). The renewal of the matching program will be effective as
indicated below.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties may comment on this notice by either
telefax to (410) 965-8582 or writing to the Associate Commissioner,
Office of Income Security Programs, 760 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 Associate Commissioner for Office
of Income Security Programs 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
establishing the conditions under which computer matching involving the
Federal government could be performed and adding certain protections
for individuals 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
individuals.
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 Data Integrity Boards' approval of the match
agreements;
(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
[[Page 10297]]
denying an individual's benefits or payments.
B. SSA Computer Matches Subject to the Privacy Act
We have taken action to ensure that all of SSA's computer matching
programs comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act, as amended.
Dated: February 25, 2003.
Martin H. Gerry,
Deputy Commissioner for Disability and Income Security Programs.
Notice of Computer Matching Program, Social Security Administration
(SSA) With the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
A. Participating Agencies
SSA and OPM.
B. Purpose of the Matching Program
This matching program will have four separate components. The
purposes of each of these parts are as follows:
SSA Match 1005: OPM records will be used in a matching program
where SSA will match OPM's data with SSA's records to verify the
accuracy of information furnished by applicants and recipients
concerning eligibility factors for the Supplemental Security Income
(SSI) and Special Veterans' Benefits (SVB) programs. The SSI program
provides payments to individuals who have income and resources below
levels established by law and regulations, and the SVB program provides
special benefits to certain World War II veterans.
SSA Match 1019: SSA will match OPM's records of civil service
disability benefit and payment data with SSA's records of Social
Security disability insurance benefits to identify disability insurance
beneficiaries whose benefits should be reduced under the Social
Security Act because the disabled worker is receiving a civil service
disability annuity benefit. SSA will match the OPM data to verify
information provided (or identify such information that should have
been provided) by the disabled worker at the time of initially applying
for Social Security benefits and on a continuous basis to ensure any
reduction in Social Security disability benefits is based on the
current civil service disability benefit amount.
SSA Match 1020: OPM records will be used in a matching program
where SSA will match OPM's civil service benefit and payment data with
SSA's records for disabled and retired annuitants. These annuitants may
be subject to the use of a modified benefit computation formula used by
SSA under the Social Security Act for certain persons who receive both
a civil service benefit and a Social Security retirement or disability
benefit. SSA will use the OPM data to verify the pension or annuity
information provided (or identify such information that should have
been provided) directly to SSA by the retirees/annuitants.
SSA Match 1021: SSA will match OPM's civil service benefit and
payment data with SSA's records of beneficiaries receiving Social
Security spouse's benefits which are subject to reduction under the
Social Security Act when the beneficiary is also receiving a government
pension based on employment not covered under that Act. SSA will match
the OPM data to verify information provided (or identify such
information that should have been provided) by the SSA beneficiary at
the time of initially applying for Social Security benefits and on a
continuing basis to ensure that any reduction in Social Security
benefits is based on the current pension amount.
C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program
SSA Match 1005: Section 1631 (e)(1)(B) and (f) of the Social
Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1383 (e)(1)(B) and (f)] for the SSI program;
section 806 of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1006] for the SVB
program.
SSA Match 1019: Section 224 of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C.
424a].
SSA Match 1020: Sections 215 (a)(7) and 215(d)(3) of the Social
Security Act [(42 U.S.C. 415 (a)(7) and 415(d)(3)].
SSA Match 1021: Section 202 (b)(4)(A), (c)(2)(A), (e)(7)(a),
(f)(2)(A), and (g)(4)(A) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 402
(b)(4)(A), (c)(2)(A), (e)(7)(A), (f)(2)(A) and (g)(4)(A)].
D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Match
OPM will provide SSA with an electronic file extracted from OPM's
Annuity and Survivor Master File. The extracted file will contain
information about each new annuitant and annuitants whose pension
amount has changed. Each record on the OPM file will be matched to
SSA's Master Beneficiary Record or Supplemental Security Income and
Special Veterans' Benefits Record for the purposes described above in
Section B.
E. Inclusive Dates of the Match
The matching program shall become effective upon the signing of the
agreement by both parties to the agreement and approval of the
agreement by the Data Integrity Boards of the respective agencies, but
no sooner than 40 days after notice of this matching program is sent to
Congress and the Office of Management and Budget or 30 days after
publication of this notice in the Federal Register, whichever is later.
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. 03-4999 Filed 3-3-03; 8:45 am]