82 FR 49692 - Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 206 (October 26, 2017)

In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new computer matching program that we are currently conducting with the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE).

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 206 (Thursday, October 26, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49692-49694]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-23326]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No. SSA 2017-0022]


Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

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 computer matching program that we 
are currently conducting with the Office of Child Support Enforcement 
(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 November 1, 2017, or once a minimum of 30 
days after publication of this notice has elapsed, whichever is later. 
The matching program will expire on October 31, 2018.

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;

[[Page 49693]]

    (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 
authorities for disclosures under this agreement are the Social 
Security Act (Act) and the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. Subsection 
453(j)(4) of the Act provides that OCSE shall provide the Commissioner 
of SSA with all information in the NDNH. 42 U.S.C. 653(j)(4). SSA has 
authority to use data to determine entitlement to and eligibility for 
programs it administers pursuant to sections 453(j)(4), 1631(e)(1)(B) 
and(f), and 1860D-14(a)(3) of the Act. 42 U.S.C. 653(j)(4), 
1383(e)(1)(B) and (f), and 1395w-114(a)(3). 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 Act provides that the determination of whether a Part D 
eligible individual residing in a state is a subsidy-eligible 
individual shall be determined under the state plan for medical 
assistance under section 1860D-14(a)(3)(B)(1) of the Act. 42 U.S.C. 
1395w-114(a)(3)(B)(1).
    SSA has independent authority to collect this information regarding 
Medicare Parts A-D via sections 202-205, 223, 226, 228, 1611, 1631, 
1818, 1836, 1839, 1840, and 1860D-1 to 1860D-15 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 
402-405, 423, 426, 428, 1382, 1383, 1395i-2, 1395o, 1395r, 1395s, and 
1395w-101 to 1395w-115).
    Purpose(s): This computer matching agreement, hereinafter 
``agreement,'' governs a matching program between the Office of Child 
Support Enforcement (OCSE) and the Social Security Administration 
(SSA). The agreement covers information exchange operations between 
OCSE and SSA that will provide SSA with quarterly wage and unemployment 
insurance information located in the National Directory of New Hires 
(NDNH) to allow SSA to determine eligibility of applicants for Extra 
Help (low-income subsidy assistance) under the Medicare Prescription 
Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-173) 
(Extra Help). This agreement also governs the use, treatment, and 
safeguarding of the information exchanged. OCSE is the ``source 
agency'' and SSA is the ``recipient agency,'' as defined by the Privacy 
Act. 5 U.S.C. 552a(a)(9) and (11).
    This agreement assists SSA in (1) determining eligibility of 
applicants for Extra Help; (2) redetermining eligibility of existing 
Extra Help beneficiaries during periodic screening; and (3) 
administering the Extra Help program.
    The Privacy Act provides that no record contained in a system of 
record (SOR) may be disclosed for use in a computer matching program 
except pursuant to a written agreement containing specified provisions. 
5 U.S.C. 552a(o). SSA and OCSE are executing this agreement to comply 
with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and 
guidance promulgated thereunder. OCSE and SSA have been parties to 
matching agreements and recertifications for this purpose since April 
1, 2005. Appendix A provides background information about these prior 
agreements.
    The SSA component responsible for this agreement and its contents 
is the Office of Privacy and Disclosure. The responsible component for 
OCSE is the Division of Federal Systems.
    This agreement is applicable to personnel, facilities, and 
information systems of SSA and OCSE involved in the processing and 
storage of NDNH information. Personnel are defined as employees, 
contractors, or agents of OCSE and SSA.
    This agreement includes a security addendum and four appendices.
    Categories of Individuals: The individuals whose information is 
involved in this matching program are new hires, quarterly wage 
earners, and recipients of unemployment insurance.
    Categories of Records:
    SSA will provide OCSE the following data elements electronically in 
the Finder File:

 COSSN (SSN)
 Name

    OCSE will provide electronically to SSA the following data elements 
from the NDNH quarterly wage file:

 Quarterly wage record identifier
 For employees:
    (1) Name (first, middle, last)
    (2) SSN
    (3) Verification request code
    (4) Processed date
    (5) Non-verifiable indicator
    (6) Wage amount
    (7) Reporting period
 For employers of individuals in the quarterly wage file of the 
NDNH:
    (1) Name
    (2) Employer identification number
    (3) Address(es)
 Transmitter Agency Code
 Transmitter State Code
 State or Agency Name

    OCSE will provide electronically to SSA the following data elements 
from the NDNH 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
 State or Agency Name

    Data Elements SSA updates in the OCSEFITM table, if there is a 
match:

 QW record identifier
 For employees:
    (1) Employee's SSN
    (2) Employee's wage amount
    (3) Reporting period
 For employers of individuals:
    (1) Employer identification number
    (2) Employer's name
 UI identifier:
    (1) Claimant SSN
    (2) Unemployment insurance benefit amount
    (3) Reporting period
    (4) Transmitter State Name

    System(s) of Records: SSA collects and maintains this information 
in the Medicare Database (MDB) system of records, No. 60-0321, 
published at 69 FR 77816 (December 28, 2004) and 71 FR 42159-42164 
(July 25, 2006). The MDB contains information related to Medicare Part 
A, Part B, Medicare Advantage Part C, and Medicare Part D.
    OCSE will match SSA information in the MDB against the quarterly 
wage and unemployment insurance information furnished by state and 
federal agencies maintained in its system of records

[[Page 49694]]

``OCSE National Directory of New Hires'' (NDNH), No. 09-80-0381, 
established by publication in the Federal Register on January 5, 2011 
at 76 FR 560. 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, 76 FR 560, 562 (January 5, 2011).

[FR Doc. 2017-23326 Filed 10-25-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P