Justia Regulation Tracker

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[Federal Register: September 18, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 182)]
[Notices]               
[Page 54197-54198]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18se08-96]                         

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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No. SSA 2008-0040]

 
Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA /
Bureau of the Public Debt (BPD)--Match Number 1304)

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice of the renewal of an existing computer matching program 
which is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2008.

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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 BPD.

DATES: SSA will file a report of the subject matching program with the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; 
the Committee on Oversight and 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 
telefaxing to (410) 965-0201 or writing to the Deputy Commissioner for 
Budget, Finance and Management, 800 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 Deputy Commissioner for Budget, 
Finance and Management as shown above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. General

    The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Pub. 
L.100-503), amended the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) by describing 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 approval of the matching agreement by the Data 
Integrity Boards (DIB) of the participating Federal agencies;
    (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 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: July 31, 2008.
Mary Glenn-Croft,
Deputy Commissioner for Budget, Finance and Management.

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

A. Participating Agencies

    SSA and BPD.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    The purpose of this agreement is to establish the conditions, terms 
and safeguards under which BPD, the Source Agency, agrees to disclose 
ownership of Savings Securities to SSA, the Recipient Agency. This 
disclosure will provide SSA with information necessary to verify an 
individual's self-certification of eligibility for prescription drug 
subsidy assistance under Public Law 108-173, the Medicare Prescription 
Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA).

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    The legal authority for SSA to conduct this matching activity is 
contained in section 1860D-14 (42 U.S.C.1395w-114) of the Social 
Security Act. Section 1860D-14 of the Act requires the Commissioner of 
SSA to verify the eligibility of an individual who seeks to be 
considered as a subsidy eligible individual for Part D of Medicare 
under the MMA, and who self-certifies his/her income, resources and 
family size. Pursuant to section 1860D-14(a)(3) of the Act (42 
U.S.C.1395w-114(a)(3)), SSA shall determine whether a Part D eligible 
individual residing in a state is a subsidy eligible individual and 
whether the individual is an individual as described in section 1860D-
14.

[[Page 54198]]

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

    SSA will provide BPD with a finder file containing SSNs extracted 
from the Medicare database. BPD will match the SSNs in the finder file 
with the SSNs in its Savings Securities registration systems. This file 
will be formatted as stated in the attached Appendix. These records are 
included under the systems of records Treasury/BPD.002, United States 
Savings-Type Securities, and Treasury/BPD.008, Retail Treasury 
Securities Access Application, last published on July 23, 2008 at 73 FR 
42906 and 42918, respectively. SSA will then match the BPD data with 
the new Medicare Part D and Part D Subsidy File system of records, SSA/
ORSIS 60-0321, published at 69 FR 248 (December 28, 2004). As required 
by the Privacy Act, the Medicare Part D and Part D Subsidy File system 
of records was published in the Federal Register (Vol. 69, No. 248, pp. 
77816-77822 [04-28302]) on Tuesday, December 28, 2004.
    The number of records matched each year is determined in part by 
the number of people who file for subsidy for Part D. (In July 2007, 
there were 1,921,207 records matched.) BPD will perform the automated 
matching with its computer systems and provide the response file to SSA 
as soon as possible. This agreement covers the following matches:
 (1) Screening for Potential Recipients
    An ongoing monthly match of less than 200,000 potential applicants 
and those recipients who notify SSA of a change.
(2) Screening To Confirm Eligibility
    Ongoing yearly matches of approximately two million recipients each 
year for confirming eligibility of individuals receiving Medicare Part 
D subsidy. SSA will substitute the yearly match file for the ongoing 
monthly match files and will not be a separate submission.

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 date 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. E8-21817 Filed 9-17-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4191-02-P