[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 9, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26452-26453]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-8858]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Privacy Act of 1974; Report of Matching Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs 
(VA), recipient agency, intends to continue a recurring computer-
matching program with the Social Security Administration (SSA), source 
agency.
    The goal of this match is to compare income and employment status 
as reported to VA with wage records maintained by SSA. The proposed 
matching program will enable VA to ensure accurate reporting of income 
and employment status. VA will use this information to adjust VA 
benefit payments as prescribed by law.

DATES: VA will file a report of the subject matching agreement with the 
Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; the 
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform; and the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB). The matching program will be effective as indicated in this 
notice.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted through 
www.Regulations.gov, by mail or hand-delivery to Director, Regulations 
Management (00REG1), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont 
Avenue, NW, Room 1068, Washington, DC 20420; fax to (202) 273-9026. 
Copies of comments received will be available for public inspection in 
the Office of Regulation Policy and Management, Room 1063B, between the 
hours of 8 a.m., and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except 
holidays). Please call (202) 273-9515 for an appointment. In addition, 
during the comment period, comments may be viewed online through the 
Federal Docket Management System (FDMS).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Liverman (212C), (202) 273-
7280.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This information is required by title 5 
U.S.C. subsection 552a(e)(12), the Privacy Act of 1974. SSA and VA have 
determined that a computer matching agreement is the most cost 
effective and efficient way to verify statements of beneficiaries. By 
comparing the information received through the matching program between 
SSA and VA on an annual basis, VA will be able to make timely and more 
accurate adjustments in the benefits payable.

A. Participating Agencies

    This is a computer matching agreement between the Social Security 
Administration, source agency, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
recipient agency.

B. Purpose of the Match

    The purpose of the matching agreement is to provide VA with data 
from income tax return information disclosed to SSA, to include its 
wage and self-employment income records. VA will use this information 
to adjust VA benefit payments as prescribed by law.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    The authority to conduct this match is 38 U.S.C. 5106, which 
requires Federal agencies to furnish VA with information necessary to 
determine eligibility for or amount of benefits. In addition, 26 U.S.C. 
6103(l)(7) authorizes the disclosure of tax return information to VA.

D. Records To Be Matched

    VA records involved in the match are the VA system of records, 
Compensation, Pension, Education and Rehabilitation Records--VA (58 VA 
21/22), first published at 41 FR 9294 (March 3, 1976), and last amended 
at 70 FR 34186 (June 13, 2005), with other amendments as cited therein. 
VA's routine use for this match is routine use number 46.
    The SSA records will come from the Earnings Recording and Self-
Employment Income System, SSA/OSR, 60-0059. Routine use 26 permits SSA 
to disclose the pertinent information to VA.

E. Description of Computer Matching Program

    VA plans to match records of veterans, surviving spouses and 
children who receive pension, and parents who receive dependency and 
indemnity compensation, with SSA income tax return information as it 
relates to earned income. VA will also match records of veterans 
receiving disability compensation at the 100 percent rate based on 
unemployability with SSA income tax return information as it relates to 
earned income.
    VA will furnish an electronic file, which contains the social 
security number (SSN), name, VA claim number, and date of birth for 
each individual for whom tax return information is being requested. SSA 
will verify the SSNs furnished by using the Enumeration Verification 
System. SSA will provide a response for each individual identified by 
either indicating why the SSN could not be verified, or including 
earnings data for each record verified.

F. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program

    The match will start no sooner than 30 days after publication of 
this Notice in the Federal Register, or 40 days after copies of this 
Notice and the agreement of the parties is submitted to Congress and 
the Office of Management and Budget, whichever is later, and end not 
more than 18 months after the agreement is properly implemented by the 
parties. The involved agencies' Data Integrity Boards (DIB) may extend 
this match for 12 months provided the agencies certify to their DIBs, 
within three months of the ending date of the original match, that the 
matching program will be conducted without change and that the matching 
program has been conducted in compliance with the original matching 
program.
    This computer-matching program is subject to public comment and 
review by Congress and the Office of Management and Budget. In 
accordance with title 5 U.S.C. subsection 552a(o)(2) and (r), copies of 
the agreement are being sent to both Houses of Congress and to the 
Office of Management and Budget.
    This notice is provided in accordance with the provisions of the 
Privacy Act

[[Page 26453]]

of 1974 as amended by Public Law 100-503.

    Approved: April 19, 2007.
Gordon H. Mansfield,
Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
 [FR Doc. E7-8858 Filed 5-8-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P