81 FR 9921 - Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service (Fiscal Service))-Match Number 1304

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 38 (February 26, 2016)

In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a renewal of an existing computer matching program that we are currently conducting with Fiscal Service.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 38 (Friday, February 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9921-9922]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04123]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No. SSA 2015-0051]


Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service (Fiscal 
Service))--Match Number 1304

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice of a renewal of an existing computer matching program 
that will expire on March 31, 2016.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as 
amended, this notice announces a renewal of an existing computer 
matching program that we are currently conducting with Fiscal Service.

DATES: We 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 matching program will be 
effective as indicated below.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may comment on this notice by either 
telefaxing to (410) 966-0869 or writing to the Executive Director, 
Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel, Social 
Security Administration, 617 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 Executive Director, Office of 
Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel, as shown above.

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 
describing the conditions under which computer matching involving the 
Federal government could be performed and adding certain protections 
for persons 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 persons.
    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 approval of the matching agreement by the Data Integrity 
Boards 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 a person's benefits or payments.

B. SSA Computer Matches Subject to the Privacy Act

    We have taken action to ensure that all of our computer matching 
programs comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act, as amended.

Mary Ann Zimmerman,
Acting Executive Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of 
the General Counsel.
Notice of Computer Matching Program, SSA With the Department of the 
Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service

A. Participating Agencies
    SSA and the Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal 
Service.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program
    The purpose of this matching program is to allow Fiscal Service to 
disclose ownership of Savings Securities to us. This disclosure will 
provide us with information necessary to verify an individual's self-
certification of his or her financial status to determine eligibility 
for low-income subsidy assistance (Extra Help) in the Medicare Part D 
prescription drug benefit program established under the Medicare 
Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 
108-173).

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program
    The legal authority for this agreement is 1860D-4 of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395W-114), which requires us to verify the 
eligibility of an individual who seeks to be considered as an Extra 
Help eligible individual under the Medicare Part D prescription drug 
benefit program and who self-certifies his or her income, resources, 
and family size.
    Fiscal Service and we will execute this agreement in compliance 
with the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended by the 
Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988, and the 
regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder.

D. Categories of Records and Persons Covered by the Matching Program
    The individuals covered under this agreement will be those who 
self-certify financial status for low-income subsidy assistance (Extra 
Help) in the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit program 
established under the Medicare

[[Page 9922]]

Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003.
    We will provide Fiscal Service with a finder file consisting of 
Social Security Numbers (SSNs) extracted from our Medicare Database 
(MDB) File System. The MDB File System is a repository of Medicare 
applicant and beneficiary information related to Medicare Part A, Part 
B, Medicare Advantage Part C, and Medicare Part D. We may disclose file 
data from the MDB System pursuant to the ``Medicare Part D and Part D 
Subsidy File'' (60-0321), fully published at 71 Federal Register 42159 
on July 25, 2006 and amended at 72 Federal Register 69723 on December 
10, 2007.
    Fiscal Service will match the SSNs in our finder file with the SSNs 
in Fiscal Service Savings Securities Registration Systems and return 
the formatted comparison file. These records reside in the systems of 
records Treasury/BPD.002, ``United States Savings-Type Securities 
Treasury/BPD'' and Treasury/BPD.008, ``Retail Treasury Securities 
Access Application--Treasury/BPD'' fully published at 73 Federal 
Register No. 142, pages 42904-2491 on July 23, 2008.
    For definitive records (i.e., the actual securities issued in 
engraved or printed physical form), we will furnish Fiscal Service with 
the SSN, in a specified format, for each individual for whom we request 
Savings Securities ownership information. Fiscal Service will disclose 
the following to us: (a) The denomination of the security; (b) the 
serial number; (c) the series; (d) the issue date of the security; (e) 
the current redemption value; and (f) the return date of the finder 
file.
    For book entry records (i.e., securities maintained as computer 
records on the records of a bank or Fiscal Service), we will furnish 
Fiscal Service with the SSN, in a specified format, for each individual 
for whom we request Savings Securities registration information. Fiscal 
Service bases the query on the SSN associated with the account and 
reports any subsequent account holdings. When a match occurs on an SSN, 
Fiscal Service will disclose the following: (a) The purchase amount; 
(b) the account number and confirmation number; (c) the series; (d) the 
issue date of the security; (e) the current redemption value; and (f) 
the return date of the finder file.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program
    The effective date of this matching program is April 1, 2016, 
provided that the following notice periods have lapsed: 30 days after 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register and 40 days after 
notice of the matching program is sent to Congress and OMB. The 
matching program will continue for 18 months from the effective date 
and, if both agencies meet certain conditions, it may extend for an 
additional 12 months thereafter.

[FR Doc. 2016-04123 Filed 2-25-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P