Notice2026-06011
Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program
Primary source
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Published
March 27, 2026
Issuing agencies
Social Security Administration
Abstract
In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a re-establishment of a matching program with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). 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 (MSP) and Medicare Prescription Drug (Medicare Part D) subsidy (Extra Help).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 59 (Friday, March 27, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 59 (Friday, March 27, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14900-14901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-06011]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No. SSA-2025-0034]
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 re-establishment of a matching program
with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits
Administration (VBA). 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 (MSP)
and Medicare Prescription Drug (Medicare Part D) subsidy (Extra Help).
DATES: The deadline to submit comments on the proposed matching program
is April 27, 2026.
The matching program will be applicable on May 11, 2026, 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-2025-0034 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-2025-0034 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 (833) 410-1631.
3. Mail: Matthew Ramsey, Head of Privacy and Disclosure Policy, Law
and Policy, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, MD 21235-6401, or emailing <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a6ebc7d2d2cec3d188f4c7cbd5c3dfe6d5d5c788c1c9d0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="eea38f9a9a868b99c0bc8f839d8b97ae9d9d8fc0898198">[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 Andrea Huseth, Division
Director, Privacy and Disclosure Policy, Law and Policy, Social
Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-
6401, at telephone: (410) 608-9675, or send an email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9bdaf5ffe9fefab5d3eee8feeff3dbe8e8fab5fcf4ed"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b6f7d8d2c4d3d798fec3c5d3c2def6c5c5d798d1d9c0">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces the re-establishment
of a matching program that is set to expire between SSA and VA, which
supports SSA's efficient administration of its SSI and SVB programs and
to fulfill SSA's obligations for the MSP and Extra Help.
Matthew Ramsey,
Head, Privacy and Disclosure Policy, Law and Policy.
Participating Agencies: SSA and VA/VBA.
Authority for Conducting the Matching Program: The legal
authorities for SSA to conduct the matching program 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 the
matching program 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): Under this matching program, VA will provide SSA with
compensation and pension payment data necessary to administer SSI and
SVB and to fulfill SSA's obligations for the MSP and 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
[[Page 14901]]
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 Veteran Readiness and
Employment Records-VA'' (58VA21/22/28), republished with updated name
at 74 FR 14865 (April 1, 2009), and amended at 86 FR 61858 (November 8,
2021) and 90 FR 44464 (September 15, 2025).
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), 83 FR 54969 (November 1, 2018), 89 FR 825 (January 5, 2024), 89
FR 14554 (February 27, 2024) and 90 FR 53413-53415 (November 25, 2025).
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), 83 FR 54969
(November 1, 2018), and 90 FR 53413-53415 (November 25, 2025).
[FR Doc. 2026-06011 Filed 3-26-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P
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