[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 227 (Friday, November 26, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69007-69008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26087]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[SSA/States, SDX-BENDEX-SVES Files--Matches 6001, 6002, and 6004]


Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended; Computer Matching Program

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice of the renewal of an existing computer matching program 
which is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2004.

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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 the States.

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 for 
Income Security Programs, 245 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 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 programs 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 an individual's benefits or payments.

[[Page 69008]]

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: November 17, 2004.
Martin H. Gerry,
Deputy Commissioner for Disability and Income Security Programs.

Notice of Computer Matching Program, Social Security Administration 
(SSA) with the States

A. Participating Agencies

    SSA and the States.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    Section 1137 of the Social Security Act requires individual States 
to have in effect an income and eligibility verification system meeting 
certain requirements in order to administer certain State-administered 
income, food assistance, and medical assistance programs.
    A chief purpose of this matching program is to facilitate 
administration of this provision. Individual agreements with the States 
will describe the conditions under which SSA agrees to disclose 
information to the States relating to the eligibility for, and payment 
of, Social Security, supplemental security income, and special veterans 
benefits, including certain tax return information disclosed by SSA, in 
accordance with applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, as 
well as quarters of coverage, prisoner, and death information.
    The matching program will also be used to implement provisions of 
Public Law 104-193, the Personal Responsibility and Work Reconciliation 
Act of 1996, involving the significance of Social Security coverage 
information to the eligibility of certain aliens for some Federal and 
State public benefits. Under this matching program, SSA will disclose 
certain Social Security coverage information on specific persons to 
States administering appropriate benefit programs.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    Sections 1106 and 1137 of the Social Security Act; sections 402, 
412, 421 and 435 of Public Law 104-193; section 202(x)(3)(B)(iv) of the 
Social Security Act; section 205(r)(3) of the Social Security Act; and 
section 6103(p)(4) of Title 26 of the Internal Revenue Code.

D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Matching 
Program

    States will provide SSA with names and other identifying 
information of appropriate benefit applicants or recipients. Specific 
information from participating States will be matched, as provided in 
the agreement for the specific programs, with the following systems of 
records maintained by SSA:
    1. SDX--Supplemental Security Income Record and Special Veterans 
Benefits (SSR/SVB), SSA/ODSSIS (60-0103);
    2. BENDEX--Master Beneficiary Record (MBR), SSA/ORSIS (60-0090) and 
the Earnings Recording and Self-Employment Income System, SSA/OEEAS 
(60-0059);
    3. EVS--Master Files of Social Security Number (SSN) Holders and 
SSN Applications, SSA/OEEAS (60-0058);
    4. SVES--SSR/SVB, SSA/ODSSIS (60-0103); MBR, SSA/ORSIS (60-0090); 
the Earnings Recording and Self-Employment Income System, SSA/OEEAS 
(60-0059); the Master Files of SSN Holders and SSN Applications, SSA/
OEEAS (60-0058); and the Prisoner Update Processing System (PUPS), SSA/
OEEAS (60-0269);
    5. Quarters of Coverage Query--The Earnings Recording and Self-
Employment Income System, SSA/OEEAS (60-0059) and the Master Files of 
SSN Holders and SSN Applications, SSA/OEEAS (60-0058);
    6. Prisoner Query--PUPS, SSA/OEEAS (60-0269); and
    7. Death Query--Master Files of SSN Holders and SSN Applications, 
SSA/OEEAS (60-0058)--subsection referred to as the NUMIDENT.
    SSA and the States will exchange information through the File 
Transfer Management System (FTMS) or online through the Interstate 
Connection Network. Cartridge or magnetic tape will be used in the 
event FTMS is inoperable.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program

    The matching program will become effective no sooner than 40 days 
after notice of the matching program is sent to Congress and OMB, or 30 
days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register, 
whichever is later. Individual State matching agreements under the 
program may also become effective upon the signing of the agreements by 
the parties to the agreements. The agreements with individual States 
will continue for 18 months from the effective date and may be extended 
for a period of time, up to 12 months, but not to exceed June 30, 2007, 
if certain conditions are met.

[FR Doc. 04-26087 Filed 11-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P