Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program

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] BILLING CODE 5000-04-F