80 FR 65874 - Privacy Act of 1974: Computer Matching Program

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 207 (October 27, 2015)

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 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 Social Security Administration (SSA). Data from the proposed match will be used to verify the earned income of nonservice-connected veterans, and those veterans who are zero percent service-connected (noncompensable), 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.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 207 (Tuesday, October 27, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65874-65875]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27245]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Privacy Act of 1974: Computer Matching Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of Computer Match Program.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 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 Social Security Administration (SSA). Data 
from the proposed match will be used to verify the earned income of 
nonservice-connected veterans, and those veterans who are zero percent 
service-connected (noncompensable), 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.

DATES: Effective Date: This match will start October 9, 2015, unless 
comments dictate otherwise.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted by mail or hand-delivery 
to Director, Regulations Policy and Management (02REG), Department of 
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave. NW., Room 1068, Washington, DC 
20420; fax to (202) 273-9026; or email through http://www.Regulations.gov. All comments received will be available for public 
inspection in the Office of Regulation Policy and Management, Room 
1063B, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday 
(except holidays). Please call (202) 461-4902 for an appointment (this 
is not a toll free number). In addition, during the comment period, 
comments may be viewed online through the Federal Docket Management 
System (FDMS) at http://www.Regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Benita K. Miller, MHA, FACHE, 
Director, Health Eligibility Center, (404) 848-5300 (this is not a toll 
free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Veterans Affairs has 
statutory authorization under 38 U.S.C. 5317, 38 U.S.C. 5106, 26 U.S.C. 
6103(l)(7)(D)(viii) and 5 U.S.C. 552a to establish matching agreements 
and request and use income information from other agencies for purposes 
of verification of income for determining eligibility for benefits. 38 
U.S.C. 1710(a)

[[Page 65875]]

(2) (G), 1710(a) (3), and 1710(b) identify those veterans whose basic 
eligibility for medical care benefits is dependent upon their financial 
status. Eligibility for nonservice-connected and zero percent 
noncompensable service-connected veterans is determined based on the 
veteran's inability to defray the expenses for necessary care as 
defined in 38 U.S.C. 1722. This determination can affect their 
responsibility to participate in the cost of their care through 
copayments and their assignment to an enrollment priority group. The 
goal of this match is to obtain SSA earned income information data 
needed for the income verification process. The VA records involved in 
the match are ``Enrollment and Eligibility Records--VA'' (147VA16). The 
SSA records are from the Earnings Recording and Self-Employment Income 
System, SSA/OEEAS 60-0059 and Master Files of Social Security Number 
Holders and SSN Applications, SSA/OEEAS, 60-0058, (referred to as ``the 
Numident''). A copy of this notice has been sent to both Houses of 
Congress and OMB.
    This matching agreement expires 18 months after its effective date. 
This match will not continue past the legislative authorized date to 
obtain this information.

    Signing Authority:  The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or 
designee, approved this document and authorized the undersigned to 
sign and submit the document to the Office of the Federal Register 
for publication electronically as an official document of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. Robert L. Nabors II, Chief of Staff, 
approved this document on October 8, 2015, for publication.

    Dated October 13, 2015.
Kathleen M. Manwell,
Program Analyst, VA Privacy Service, Office of Privacy and Records 
Management, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-27245 Filed 10-26-15; 8:45 am]
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