[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 226 (Tuesday, November 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64981-64982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31279]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program (SSA/Department of 
the Treasury, Bureau of the Public Debt (BPD))--Match Number 1038

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Notice of computer matching program.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as 
amended, this notice announces a computer matching program that SSA 
plans to conduct with BPD.

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 and Oversight 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 
telefax to (410) 966-0869 or writing to the Associate Commissioner for 
Program Support, 4400 West High Rise Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, 
Baltimore, MD 21235. All comments received will be available for public 
inspection at this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Associate Commissioner for Program 
Support as shown above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. General

    The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 
(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. Among other 
things, 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 approval of the matching agreement by the Data 
Integrity Boards (DIB) of the participating Federal Agencies;
    (3) Furnish detailed reports about matching programs to Congress 
and OMB;
    (4) Notify applicants and beneficiaries that their records are 
subject to matching; and
    (5) Verify match findings before reducing, suspending, terminating 
or denying an individual's benefits or payments.

B. SSA Computer Matches Subject to the Privacy Act

    We have taken action to ensure that this computer matching program 
complies with the requirements of the Privacy Act, as amended.

    Dated: November 12, 1998.
Kenneth S. Apfel,
Commissioner of Social Security.

Notice of Computer Matching Program, Social Security Administration 
(SSA) With the Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Public Debt 
(BPD)

A. Participating Agencies

    SSA and BPD.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    The purpose of this matching program is to establish conditions and 
procedures for BPD's disclosure of certain savings bond information 
useful to SSA in verifying eligibility and payment amounts of 
individuals under the supplemental security income (SSI) program. The 
SSI program was created under title XVI of the Social Security Act (the 
Act) to provide benefits under the rules of that title to individuals 
with income and resources below levels established by law and 
regulations.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    Sections 1631(e)(1)(B) and (f) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1383(e)(1)(B) 
and (f)).

D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Match

    SSA will provide BPD with a finder file, extracted from SSA's 
Supplemental Security Income Record System, containing Social Security 
numbers of individuals who have applied for or receive SSI payments. 
This information will be matched with BPD files in BPD's savings bond 
registration system of records (United States savings-type securities) 
and a reply file of matched records will be furnished to SSA. Upon 
receipt of BPD's reply file, SSA will match identifying information 
from the BPD file with SSA's records to determine preliminarily whether 
the data pertain to the relevant SSI applicant or recipient before 
beginning the process of verifying bond ownership and taking any 
necessary benefit actions.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Match

    The matching program shall become effective upon 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 date is 
later.
    The matching program will continue for 18 months from the effective 
date

[[Page 64982]]

and may be extended for an additional 12 months thereafter, if certain 
conditions are met.

[FR Doc. 98-31279 Filed 11-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4190-29-P