Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/ Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF))SSA Match Number 1074

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/

Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children

and Families (ACF))--SSA Match Number 1074

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

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 ACF.

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) 966-2935 or by 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 at the above address.

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. 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 match agreements by the Data

Integrity Boards 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 all of SSA's computer matching

programs comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act, as amended.

[[Page 46092]]

Dated: August 21, 1998.

Kenneth S. Apfel,

Commissioner of Social Security.

Notice of Computer Matching Program, Social Security Administration

(SSA) with the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration

for Children and Families (ACF)

A. Participating Agencies

SSA and ACF.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

The purpose of this matching program is to establish the

conditions, safeguards, and procedures for the disclosure to SSA by ACF

of wage, new hire, and unemployment compensation data. ACF will

disclose the data through a computer matching operation for SSA's use

in establishing or verifying eligibility and payment amounts of

individuals under the supplemental security income (SSI) program

provisions of title XVI of the Social Security Act. Eligibility

requirements of the SSI program allow payments only to aged, blind, and

disabled recipients with income and resources below levels established

by law and regulations.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

This matching operation is carried out under the authority of

sections 453(j)(4) and 1631(e)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (42

U.S.C. 653(j)(4) and 1383(e)(1)(B)).

D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Match

SSA will compare the ACF records with individual identification

data on SSI applicants and recipients extracted from SSA's Supplemental

Security Income Record (SSA/OSR, 09-60-0103). The ACF records are wage,

new hire, and unemployment compensation data records in the National

Directory of New Hires data base which is part of the Federal Parent

Locator and Federal Tax Refund/Administrative Offset System (DHHS/OCSE,

09-90-0074). SSA will use information from this match to help establish

or verify eligibility and payment amounts under the SSI program.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Match

The agreement for this computer matching program shall become

effective no sooner than 40 days after submission of notice of the

program to Congress and to the Office of Management and Budget, or 30

days from the date SSA publishes notice of the program in the Federal

Register, or upon the signature of the matching agreement for the

program by representatives of both parties to the agreement, whichever

is latest. The agreement may be renewed at the end of 18 months, for a

period of time not to exceed 12 months, if certain conditions are met.

[FR Doc. 98-23136 Filed 8-27-98; 8:45 am]

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