Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Defense Logistics Agency

Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program

AGENCY: Defense Manpower Data Center, Defense Logistics Agency, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of a computer matching program.

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SUMMARY: Subsection (e)(12) of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5

U.S.C. 552a), requires agencies to publish advanced notice of any

proposed or revised computer matching program by the matching agency

for public comment. The Department of Defense (DoD) as the matching

agency under the Privacy Act, is hereby giving notice to the record

subjects of a computer matching program between Social Security

Administration (SSA) and the DoD that their records are being matched

by computer.

The Social Security Act requires SSA to verify, with independent or

collateral sources, information provided to SSA by applicants for and

recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. The SSI

applicant or recipient provides information about eligibility factors

and other relevant information. SSA obtains additional information as

necessary before making

[[Page 5642]]

any determinations of eligibility or payment amounts or adjustments

thereto. With respect to military retirement payments to SSI recipients

who are retired members of the Uniformed Services or their survivors,

SSA proposes to accomplish this task by computer matching with the DOD.

DATES: This proposed action will become effective March 8, 1999, and

matching may commence unless changes to the matching program are

required due to public comments or by Congressional or by Office of

Management and Budget objections. Any public comment must be received

before the effective date.

ADDRESSES: Any interested party may submit written comments to the

Director, Defense Privacy Office, 1941 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite

920, Arlington, VA 22202-4502.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Vahan Moushegian, Jr. at (703)

607-2943.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to subsection (o) of the Privacy

Act of 1974, as amended, (5 U.S.C. 552a), the Defense Manpower Data

Center (DMDC) and SSA have concluded an agreement to conduct a computer

matching program. The parties to this agreement have determined that a

computer matching program is the most efficient, expeditious, and

effective means of obtaining and processing the information needed by

the SSA.

A copy of the computer matching agreement between SSA and DoD is

available upon request. Requests should be submitted to the address

caption above or to the Computer Matching Program and Policy Team,

Office of Disclosure Policy, Office of Program Support, Office of

Disability and Income Security Programs, Social Security

Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235.

Set forth below is the notice of the establishment of a computer

matching program required by paragraph 6.c. of the Office of Management

and Budget Guidelines on computer matching published on June 19, 1989,

at 54 FR 25818.

The matching agreement, as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(r) of the

Privacy Act, and an advance copy of this notice was submitted on

January 21, 1999, to the House Committee on Government Reform and

Oversight, the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, and the

Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,

Office of Management and Budget pursuant to paragraph 4d of Appendix I

to OMB Circular No. A-130, `Federal Agency Responsibilities for

Maintaining Records about Individuals,' dated February 8, 1996

(February 20, 1996, 61 FR 6427).

Dated: January 28, 1999.

L. M. Bynum,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

COMPUTER MATCHING PROGRAM BETWEEN THE SOCIAL SECURITY

ADMINISTRATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR VERIFICATION OF

ELIGIBILITY FOR SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME PROGRAM

A. Participating agencies: Participants in this computer matching

program are the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Defense

Manpower Data Center (DMDC) of the Department of Defense (DoD). The SSA

is the source agency, i.e., the activity disclosing the records for the

purpose of the match. The DMDC is the specific recipient activity or

matching agency, i.e., the agency that actually performs the computer

matching.

B. Purpose of the match: The Social Security Act requires SSA to

verify, with independent or collateral sources, information provided to

SSA by applicants for and recipients of Supplemental Security Income

(SSI) payments. The SSI applicant or recipient provides information

about eligibility factors and other relevant information. SSA obtains

additional information as necessary before making any determinations of

eligibility or payment amounts or adjustments thereto. With respect to

military retirement payments to SSI recipients who are retired members

of the Uniformed Services or their survivors, SSA proposes to

accomplish this task by computer matching with the DOD.

C. Authority for conducting the match: The legal authority for the

matching program is contained in sections 1631(e)(1)(B) and (f) of the

Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1383(e)(1)(B) and (f)).

D. Records to be matched: The systems of records maintained by the

respective agencies under the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, from

which records will be disclosed for the purpose of this computer match

are as follows:

1. The SSA will use 09-60-0103, entitled `Supplemental Security

Income Record, HHS/SSA/OSR,' last published on January 6, 1995, at 60

FR 2150.

2. The DMDC will use S322.10 DMDC, entitled 'Defense Manpower Data

Center Data Base', last published on September 14, 1998 at 63 FR 49095.

E. Description of computer matching program: SSA, as the source

agency, will provide DMDC with an electronic query file which contains

the name, SSN, and SSI person type. Upon receipt of the query file,

DMDC, as the recipient agency, will perform a computer match using all

nine digits of the SSN of the SSI file against a DMDC database. The

DMDC database consists of extracts of personnel and pay records of

retired members of the uniformed services or their survivors.

DMDC will furnish the matched data (`hits') to SSA in an electronic

reply file. SSA is responsible for verifying and determining that the

data in the DMDC reply file are consistent with the data in the source

SSA query file and resolving any discrepancies or inconsistencies on an

individual basis. SSA also is responsible for making final

determinations as to eligibility for or amount of payments,

continuation or adjustments to payments, or any recovery of

overpayments as a result of the match.

The electronic SSA query file contains approximately 6.5 million

records extracted from the Supplemental Security Income Record.

The electronic DMDC database contains records on approximately 2.15

million retired uniformed service members or their survivors. DMDC will

match the SSN on the SSA file by computer matching against the DMDC

database.

F. Inclusive dates of the matching program: This computer matching

program is subject to public comment and review by Congress and the

Office of Management and Budget. If the mandatory 30 day period for

comment has expired and no comments are received and if no objections

are raised by either Congress or the Office of Management and Budget

within 40 days of being notified of the proposed match, the computer

matching program becomes effective and the respective agencies may

begin the exchange at a mutually agreeable time on a annual basis. By

agreement between SSA and DMDC, the matching program will be in effect

for 18 months with an option to renew for 12 additional months unless

one of the parties to the agreement advises the other by written

request to terminate or modify the agreement.

G. Address for receipt of public comments or inquiries: Director,

Defense Privacy Office, 1941 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 920,

Arlington, VA 22202-4502. Telephone (703) 607-2943.

[FR Doc. 99-2580 Filed 2-3-99; 8:45 am]

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