Notice2023-20045
Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program
Primary source
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Published
September 15, 2023
Issuing agencies
Social Security Administration
Abstract
In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new matching program with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration. Under this matching program, VA will provide SSA with compensation and pension payment data necessary to administer Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Special Veterans Benefits (SVB) and to fulfill SSA's obligations for the Medicare Savings Program and Medicare Prescription Drug (Medicare Part D) subsidy (Extra Help).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 178 (Friday, September 15, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 178 (Friday, September 15, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63639-63641]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20045]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No. SSA-2023-0002]
Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program
AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).
ACTION: Notice of a new matching program.
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[[Page 63640]]
SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as
amended, this notice announces a new matching program with the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration.
Under this matching program, VA will provide SSA with compensation and
pension payment data necessary to administer Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) and Special Veterans Benefits (SVB) and to fulfill SSA's
obligations for the Medicare Savings Program and Medicare Prescription
Drug (Medicare Part D) subsidy (Extra Help).
DATES: The deadline to submit comments on the proposed matching program
is October 16, 2023. The matching program will be applicable on
November 11, 2023, or once a minimum of 30 days after publication of
this notice has elapsed, whichever is later. The matching program will
be in effect for a period of 18 months.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any one of three methods--
internet, fax, or mail. Do not submit the same comments multiple times
or by more than one method. Regardless of which method you choose,
please state that your comments refer to Docket No. SSA-2023-0002 so
that we may associate your comments with the correct regulation.
Caution: You should be careful to include in your comments only
information that you wish to make publicly available. We strongly urge
you not to include in your comments any personal information, such as
Social Security numbers or medical information.
1. Internet: We strongly recommend that you submit your comments
via the internet. Please visit the Federal eRulemaking portal at
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Use the Search function to find docket
number SSA-2023-0002 and then submit your comments. The system will
issue you a tracking number to confirm your submission. You will not be
able to view your comment immediately because we must post each
submission manually. It may take up to a week for your comments to be
viewable.
2. Fax: Fax comments to 1 (833) 410-1631.
3. Mail: Matthew Ramsey, Executive Director, Office of Privacy and
Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel, Social Security
Administration, G-401 WHR, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD
21235-6401, or emailing <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#276a4653534f42500975464a54425e6754544609404851"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7f321e0b0b171a08512d1e120c1a063f0c0c1e51181009">[email protected]</span></a>. Comments are also
available for public viewing on the Federal eRulemaking portal at
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> or in person, during regular business
hours, by arranging with the contact person identified below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested parties may submit general
questions about the matching program to Cynthia Scott, Division
Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General
Counsel, Social Security Administration, G-401 WHR, 6401 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401, at telephone: (410) 966-1943, or
send an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f9ba80978d919098d7aa9a968d8db98a8a98d79e968f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f5b68c9b819d9c94dba6969a8181b5868694db929a83">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SSA will use VA compensation and pension
payment data to verify eligibility, or amount of payments, for SSI and
SVB recipients. SSA will also use the VA compensation and pension
payment data to verify an individual's self-certification of
eligibility for Extra Help. Additionally, SSA will use the VA
compensation and pension payment data to identify individuals who may
qualify for Medicare cost-sharing assistance through the Medicare
Savings Programs (MSP) or Extra Help to contact these individuals about
the availability of these programs.
Matthew Ramsey,
Executive Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the
General Counsel.
Participating Agencies
SSA and VA.
Authority for Conducting the Matching Program
This matching agreement between SSA and VA is executed under the
Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, as amended by the Computer Matching
and Privacy Protection Act of 1988, Public Law (Pub. L.) 100-503, 102
Stat. 2507 (1988), as amended, and the Computer Matching and Privacy
Protection Amendments of 1990, and the regulations and guidance
promulgated thereunder.
The legal authorities for SSA to conduct this exchange are sections
806(b), 1144, 1631(e)(1)(B) and (f), and 1860D-14(a)(3) of the Social
Security Act (Act) (42 U.S.C. 1006(b), 1320b-14, 1383(e)(1)(B) and (f),
and 1395w-114(a)(3)).
The legal authority for VA to disclose information under this
agreement is section 1631(f) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1383(f)), which
requires Federal agencies to provide such information as the
Commissioner of Social Security needs for purposes of determining
eligibility for or amount of benefits, or verifying other information
with respect thereto.
Section 1144(a)(1) and (b)(1) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-14(a)(1)
and (b)(1)) requires SSA to take actions to notify individuals about
the availability of Medicare cost-sharing and subsidies for low-income
individuals under title XVIII of the Act (Medicare), including MSP and
Extra Help.
Section 1860D-14(a)(3) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-114(a)(3)) sets
forth the eligibility determination requirements for Extra Help.
Purpose(s)
This agreement sets forth the terms and conditions under which VA
will provide SSA with compensation and pension payment data necessary
to administer SSI and SVB and to fulfill SSA's obligations for the
Medicare Savings Program and Medicare Part D Extra Help. SSA will use
VA compensation and pension payment data to verify eligibility, or
amount of payments, for SSI and SVB recipients. SSA will also use the
VA compensation and pension payment data to verify an individual's
self-certification of eligibility for Extra Help. Additionally, SSA
will use the VA compensation and pension payment data to identify
individuals who may qualify for Medicare cost-sharing assistance
through the MSP or Extra Help to contact these individuals about the
availability of these programs.
Categories of Individuals
The individuals whose information is involved in this matching
program are those individuals who are receiving VA compensation or
pension benefits and are matched with data in SSA's SSI Record and SVB
system of records (SOR) or SSA's Medicare database SOR.
Categories of Records
VA will provide SSA with electronic files containing compensation
and pension payment data. SSA will match the VA data with its SSI/SVB
payment information and Medicare database information. SSA will conduct
the match using the Social Security number, name, date of birth, and VA
claim number on the VA file, the SSI Record and SVB SOR, and the
Medicare database SOR.
System(s) of Records
VA will provide SSA with electronic files containing compensation
and pension payment data from its SOR entitled the ``Compensation,
Pension, Education, and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
Records--VA'' (58VA21/22/28), republished with updated name at 74 FR
14865 (April 1, 2009) and last
[[Page 63641]]
amended at 86 FR 61858 (November 8, 2021).
SSA will match the VA compensation and pension payment data with
SSI/SVB payment information maintained in its SOR entitled
``Supplemental Security Income Record and Special Veterans Benefits''
(60-0103), last fully published at 71 FR 1830 (January 11, 2006), and
amended at 72 FR 69723 (December 10, 2007), 83 FR 31250-31251 (July 3,
2018), and 83 FR 54969 (November 1, 2018).
SSA will also match the VA information with its Medicare Database
(MDB) File, 60-0321, last fully published at 71 FR 42159 (July 25,
2006), and amended at 72 FR 69723 (December 10, 2007) and 83 FR 54969
(November 1, 2018).
The SORs involved in this matching program have routine uses
permitting the disclosures needed to conduct this match.
[FR Doc. 2023-20045 Filed 9-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
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