Department of Veterans Affairs January 31, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. section 552a, the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines on the Conduct of Matching Programs, notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) intends to conduct a computer matching program with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Data from the proposed match will be utilized to verify the unearned income (i.e. interest, dividends, etc.) of nonservice-connected veterans, and zero percent noncompensable service-connected veterans, whose eligibility for VA medical care is based on their inability to defray the cost of medical care. These veterans supply household income information that includes their spouses and dependents at the time of application for VA health care benefits.

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on claimants' perception on VA's healthcare services.

Notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) intends to conduct a recurring computer program matching Internal Revenue Service (IRS) records with VA pension and parents' dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) records. The purpose of this match is to compare income status as reported to VA with records maintained by IRS. The legal authority for this match is Section 6103(l)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 6103(l)(7)) and 38 U.S.C. 5317. VA plans to match records of veterans, surviving spouses and children who receive pension, and parents who receive DIC, with data from the IRS income tax return information as it relates to unearned income. VA will use this information to adjust VA benefit payments as prescribed by law. The proposed matching program will enable VA to ensure accurate reporting of income. Records to Be Matched: VA records involved in the match are the VA system of records, Compensation, Pension, Education and Rehabilitation RecordsVA (58 VA 21/22). The IRS records will come from the Wage and Information Returns (IRP) Processing File, Treas/IRS 22.061, hereafter referred to as the Information Return Master File (IRMF), as published at 66 FR 63797 (December 10, 2001) through the Disclosure of Information to Federal, State and Local Agencies (DIFSLA) program. 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 (OMB). This notice is provided in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 as amended by Public Law 100-503.