82 FR 22179 - Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program (SSA/Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE)-Match Number 1074

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 91 (May 12, 2017)

In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new/modified of an existing computer matching program that we are currently conducting with OCSE.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 91 (Friday, May 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22179-22181]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09603]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No. SSA 2016-0052]


Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program (SSA/Office of Child 
Support Enforcement (OCSE)--Match Number 1074

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA)

ACTION: Notice of a new matching program.

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

DATES: The deadline to submit comments on the proposed matching program 
is 30 days from the date of publication of this notice. The matching 
program will be effective on June 12, 2017 and will expire on June 11, 
2017.

[[Page 22180]]


ADDRESSES: Interested parties may comment on this notice by either 
telefaxing to (410) 966-0869, writing to Mary Ann Zimmerman, Acting 
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, or email at 
[email protected]. All comments received will be available for 
public inspection at this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested parties may submit general 
questions about the matching program to Mary Ann Zimmerman, Acting 
Executive Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the 
General Counsel, by any of the means shown above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.
    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.
PARTICIPATING AGENCIES:
    SSA and OCSE

AUTHORITY FOR CONDUCTING THE MATCHING PROGRAM:
    The legal authority for disclosures under this agreement are the 
Social Security Act (Act) and the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. 
Section 453(j)(4) of the Act provides that OCSE shall provide the 
Commissioner of Social Security with all the information in the NDNH. 
42 U.S.C. 653(j)(4). SSA has authority to use data to determine 
entitlement and eligibility for programs it administers pursuant to 
453(J)(4), 1631(e)(1)(B) and (f), and 1148(d)(1) of the Act. 42 U.S.C. 
653(j)(4), 1320b-19(d)(1), and 1383(e)(1)(B) and (F). Disclosures under 
this agreement shall be made in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3), 
and in compliance with the matching procedures in 5 U.S.C. 552a(o), 
(p), and (r).
    The Commissioner of Social Security is required to verify 
eligibility of a recipient or applicant for SSI using independent or 
collateral sources. SSI benefits may not be determined solely based on 
declarations by the applicant concerning eligibility factors or other 
relevant facts. Information is also obtained, as necessary, in order to 
assure that SSI benefits are only provided to eligible individuals (or 
eligible spouses) and that the amounts of such benefits are correct. 
Section 1631(e)(1)(B) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1383(e)(1)(B)).
    Subsection 1631(f) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1383(f)) provides that 
``the head of any federal agency shall provide such information as the 
Commissioner of Social Security needs for purposes of determining 
eligibility for or amount of benefits, or verifying information with 
respect thereto.''
    Section 1148(d)(1) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-19(d)(1)) requires 
SSA to verify earnings of beneficiaries/recipients to ensure accurate 
payments to employer network providers under the Ticket-to-Work 
program.

PURPOSE(S):
    The purpose of this matching program is to govern the following 
information exchange operations between OCSE and us from the National 
Directory of New Hires (NDNH): online query access for Supplemental 
Security Income (SSI), Disability Insurance (DI), and Ticket-to-Work 
and Self-Sufficiency (Ticket) programs, and SSI Quarterly Wage batch 
match. This agreement also governs the use, treatment, and safeguarding 
of the information exchanged. The agreement assists us (1) in 
establishing or verifying eligibility or payment amounts, or both under 
the SSI program; (2) in establishing or verifying eligibility or 
continuing entitlement under the DI program; (3) in administering the 
Ticket programs. These activities include overpayment avoidance and 
recovery for all three programs.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS:
    The individuals whose information is involved in this matching 
program are those individuals that are receiving benefits under the 
SSI, DI, and Ticket programs and individuals who are new hires, earning 
quarterly wages, or receiving unemployment insurance.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS:
    Our Systems of Records (SOR) are the Supplemental Security Income 
Record and Special Veterans Benefits (SSR/SVB), SSA/OASSIS, 60-0103 
published January 11, 2006 at 71 FR 1830, and amended at 72 FR 69723 
(December 10, 2007); and the Completed Determination Record-Continuing 
Disability Determination file (CDR-CDD), SSA/OD, 60-0050, published 
January 11, 2006 at 71 FR 1813, and amended at 72 FR 69723 (December 
10, 2007).
    OCSE will match our information in the SSR and CDR-CDD against the 
new hire, quarterly wage, and unemployment insurance information 
furnished by state and federal agencies maintained in its SOR ``OCSE 
National Directory of New Hires'' (NDNH), No. 09-80-0381, established 
by publication in the FR on April 2, 2015 at 80 FR 17906. Routine use 
(9) of the SOR authorizes disclosure of NDNH information to SSA, 80 FR 
17906, 17907 (April 2, 2015).
    We will access the OCSE web service when making online queries for 
new hire, quarterly wage, and unemployment insurance information in the 
NDNH. To comply with limitations on disclosure and to prohibit 
browsing, our access is restricted by anti-browsing technology 
(permission modules) to only those Social Security numbers (SSN) that 
have a direct business relationship with SSI, DI, or Ticket programs 
(that is, the record must have a valid SSI, DI, or Ticket payment or 
application issue). If no business relationship exists with us, OCSE 
denies access to NDNH and the user is unable to proceed. If a business 
relationship exists with us, we can access the NDNH via the OCSE web 
service to display

[[Page 22181]]

SSN-specific new hire, quarterly wage, or unemployment insurance 
information in the NDNH. The Master File Query Menu (MFQM) or eView 
extracts information from our SSR (for SSI recipients) or CDR-CDD (for 
ticket holders and disability beneficiaries) to facilitate query 
access.
    Under the Quarterly Batch Match (SSI). Our finder file is matched 
against the quarterly wage and unemployment insurance information in 
OCSE's NDNH.
    We will provide electronically to OCSE the following data elements 
in the finder file: Individual's SSN and Name.
    OCSE will provide electronically to us the following data elements 
from the NDNH in the quarterly wage file: Quarterly wage record 
identifier; transmitter agency code; transmitter state code; and state 
or agency name; employee information: Name (first, middle, last), SSN, 
verification request code, processed date, non-verifiable indicator, 
wage amount, and reporting period; and information about employers of 
individuals in the quarterly wage file: Name, employer identification 
number, and address(es).
    OCSE will provide electronically to us the following data elements 
from the NDNH in the unemployment insurance file: Unemployment 
insurance record identifier; processed date; SSN; verification request 
code; name (first, middle, last); address; unemployment insurance 
benefit amount; reporting period; transmitter agency code; transmitter 
state code; and state or agency name.
    Under the Online Query Access (SSI, DI, and Ticket programs), we 
will access OCSE's web service when making online requests for NDNH 
records. We will provide OCSE the individual's SSN to initiate a query 
in SSA's Permission Module. Individual's SSN. OCSE will provide us 
online query access to the following data elements on quarterly wage 
screen: Quarterly wage record identifier; date report processed; name/
SSN verified; employee information: SSN, name (first, middle, last), 
wage amount, and reporting period; employer information: Name, employer 
identification number, employer FIPS code (if present), and 
address(es).
    OCSE will provide us online query access to the following data 
elements on the new hire screen: New hire record identifier; name/SSN 
verified; date report processed; employee information: SSN, name 
(first, middle, last), and date of hire; employer information: Name, 
employer identification number, employer FIPS code (if present), and 
address(es).
    OCSE will provide us online query access to the following data 
elements on the unemployment insurance screen: Unemployment insurance 
record identifier; name/SSN verified; SSN; name (first, middle, last); 
address; unemployment insurance benefit amount; reporting period; payer 
state; and date report processed.

SYSTEM(S) OF RECORDS:
    OCSE and SSA published notice of the relevant SORs in the FR SSA's 
SORs are the Supplemental Security Income Record and Special Veterans 
Benefits (SSR/SVB), SSA/OASSIS, 60-0103 published January 11, 2006 at 
71 FR 1830, and amended at 72 FR 69723 (December 10, 2007); and the 
Completed Determination Record-Continuing Disability Determination file 
(CDR-CDD), SSA/OD, 60-0050, published January 11, 2006 at 71 FR 1813, 
and amended at 72 FR 69723 (December 10, 2007).
    OCSE will match SSA information in the SSR and CDR-CDD against the 
new hire, quarterly wage, and unemployment insurance information 
furnished by state and federal agencies maintained in its SOR ``OCSE 
National Directory of New Hires'' (NDNH), No. 09-80-0381, established 
by publication in the FR on April 2, 2015 at 80 FR 17906. The 
disclosure of NDNH information by OCSE to SSA constitutes a ``routine 
use,'' as defined by the Privacy Act. 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3). Routine use 
(9) of the SOR authorizes disclosure of NDNH information to SSA, 80 FR 
17906, 17907 (April 2, 2015).
    SSA will access the OCSE web service when making online queries for 
new hire, quarterly wage, and unemployment insurance information in the 
NDNH. To comply with limitations on disclosure and to prohibit 
browsing, SSA access is restricted by anti-browsing technology 
(permission modules) to only those Social Security numbers (SSN) that 
have a direct business relationship with SSI, DI, or Ticket programs 
(that is, the record must have a valid SSI, DI, or Ticket payment or 
application issue). If no business relationship exists with SSA, OCSE 
denies access to NDNH and the user is unable to proceed. If a business 
relationship exists with SSA, SSA can access the NDNH via the OCSE web 
service to display SSN-specific new hire, quarterly wage, or 
unemployment insurance information in the NDNH. The MFQM or eView 
extracts information from SSA's SSR (for SSI recipients) or CDR-CDD 
(for ticket holders and disability beneficiaries) to facilitate query 
access.

[FR Doc. 2017-09603 Filed 5-11-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4191-02-P