**Safeguarding Personal Information in**

**Department of Veterans Affairs Records**

**Note**: Sections 1.575 through 1.584 concern the safeguarding of
individual privacy from the misuse of information from files, records,
reports, and other papers and documents in Department of Veterans
Affairs custody. As to the release of information from Department of
Veterans Affairs claimant records see §1.500 series. As to the release
of information from Department of Veterans Affairs records other than
claimant records see §1.550 series. Section 1.575 series implement the
provisions of Pub. L. 93-579, December 31, 1974, adding a section 552a
to title 5 U.S.C. providing that individuals be granted access to
records concerning them which are maintained by Federal agencies, and
for other purposes.

**Source**: Sections 1.575 through 1.584 issued at 40 FR 33944,

Aug. 12, 1975, unless otherwise noted.

**§1.575 Social security numbers in veterans' benefits matters.**

\(a\) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no one will
be denied any right, benefit, or privilege provided by law because of
refusal to disclose to the Department of Veterans Affairs a social
security number.

\(b\) VA shall require mandatory disclosure of a claimant's or
beneficiary's social security number (including the social security
number of a dependent of a claimant or beneficiary) on necessary forms
as prescribed by the Secretary as a condition precedent to receipt or
continuation of receipt of compensation or pension payable under the
provisions of chapters 11, 13 and 15 of title 38, United States Code,
provided, however, that a claimant shall not be required to furnish VA
with a social security number for any person to whom a social security
number has not been assigned. VA may also require mandatory disclosure
of an applicant's social security number as a condition for receiving
loan guaranty benefits and a social security number or other taxpayer
identification number from existing direct and vendee loan borrowers and
as a condition precedent to receipt of a VA-guaranteed loan, direct loan
or vendee loan, under chapter 37 of title 38, United States Code. (Pub.
L. 97-365, sec. 4)

\(c\) A person requested by VA to disclose a social security number
shall be told, as prescribed by §1.578(c), whether disclosure is
voluntary or mandatory. The person shall also be told that VA is
requesting the social security number under the authority of title 38
U.S.C., or in the case of existing direct or vendee loan borrowers,
under the authority of 26 U.S.C. 6109(a) in conjunction with sections
145 and 148 of Pub. L. 98-369, or in the case of loan applicants, under
the authority of section 4 of Pub. L. 97-365. The person shall also be
told that it will be used in the administration of veterans' benefits in
the identification of veterans or persons claiming or receiving VA
benefits and their records, that it may be used in making reports to the
Internal Revenue Service where required by law, and to determine whether
a loan guaranty applicant has been identified as a delinquent taxpayer
by the Internal Revenue Service, and that such taxpayers may have their
loan applications rejected, and that it may be used to verify social
security benefit entitlement (including amounts payable) with the Social
Security Administration and, for other purposes where authorized by both
title 38 U.S.C., and the Privacy Act of 1974, (Pub. L. 93-579), or,
where required by another statute. (Pub. L. 97--365, sec. 4) (Authority:
38 U.S.C. 5101)

\[44 FR 22068, Apr. 13, 1979, as amended at 51 FR 21750, June 16, 1986;
56 FR 25044, June 3, 1991\]