Social Security Administration Announces Renewal of Existing Computer Matching Program

Targeted News Service

WASHINGTON, April 15 -- The Federal Register posted the following notice from the Social Security Administration:

Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/Law Enforcement Agency (Source Jurisdiction))-Match Number 5001

A Notice by the Social Security Administration on 04/15/2014

Publication Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Agency: Social Security Administration

Dates: We will file a report of the subject matching program with the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives; and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The matching program will be effective as indicated below.

Entry Type: Notice

Action: Notice of a renewal of an existing computer matching program that will expire on October 9, 2014.

Document Citation: 79 FR 21343

Page: 21343 -21344 (2 pages)

Agency/Docket Number:

Docket No. SSA-2014-0002

Document Number: 2014-08424

Shorter URL: https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-08424

Action

Notice Of A Renewal Of An Existing Computer Matching Program That Will Expire On October 9, 2014.

Summary

In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a renewal of an existing computer matching program that we are currently conducting with the Source Jurisdiction.

DATES:

We will file a report of the subject matching program with the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives; and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The matching program will be effective as indicated below.

ADDRESSES:

Interested parties may comment on this notice by either telefaxing to (410) 966-0869 or writing to the 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. All comments received will be available for public inspection at this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

The Executive Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel, as shown above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. General

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 (101) 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.

B. SSA Computer Matches Subject to the Privacy Act

We have taken action to ensure that all of our computer matching programs comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act, as amended.

Kirsten J. Moncada,

Executive Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel.

Notice of Computer Matching Program, SSA With the Law Enforcement Agency (Source Jurisdiction)

A. Participating Agencies

SSA and Source Jurisdiction.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

The purpose of this matching program is to establish the terms, conditions, and safeguards under which we will conduct a computer matching program with the Source Jurisdiction in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended by the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (5 U.S.C. 552a), and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder, to identify individuals in the Source Jurisdiction who are (1) fleeing fugitive felons, parole violators, or probation violators, as defined by the Social Security Act (Act) and in accordance with the Martinez Settlement and the Clark Court Order, as defined below, who are also (2) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients, Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance (RSDI) beneficiaries, Special Veterans Benefit (SVB) beneficiaries, or representative payees for SSI recipients, RSDI beneficiaries, or SVB beneficiaries.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

The legal authority for the matching program conducted under this agreement is: sections 1611(e)(4)(A), 202(x)(l)(A)(iv) and (v), and 804(a)(2) and (3) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1382(e)(4)(A), 402(x)(l)(A)(iv) and (v), and 1004(a)(2) and (3)), which prohibit the payment of SSI, RSDI, and/or SVB benefits to an SSI recipient, RSDI beneficiary, or SVB beneficiary for any month during which such individual flees to avoid prosecution, or custody or confinement after conviction, under the applicable laws of the jurisdiction from which the person flees, for a crime or attempt to commit a crime considered to be a felony under the laws of said jurisdiction. These sections of the Act also prohibit payment of SSI, RSDI, and/or SVB benefits to a recipient/beneficiary in jurisdictions that do not define such crimes as felonies, but as crimes punishable by death or imprisonment for a term exceeding 1 year (regardless of the actual sentence imposed), and to an individual who violates a condition of probation or parole imposed under Federal or state law. As a result of a settlement of a nationwide class action in Martinez v. Astrue, No. 08-4735 (N.D. Cal. September 24, 2009) (Martinez Settlement), SSA's nonpayment of benefits under these sections of the Act is limited to individuals with certain flight- or escape-coded warrants. Further, as a result of a settlement of a nationwide class action in Clark v. Astrue, 06 Civ. 15521 (S.D. NY, April 13, 2012) (Clark Court Order), SSA's nonpayment of benefits under these sections of the Act cannot be based solely on the existence of parole or probation arrest warrants.

Sections 1631(a)(2)(B)(iii)(V), 205(j)(2)(C)(i)(V), and 807(d)(1)(E) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1383(a)(2)(B)(iii)(V), 405(j)(2)(C)(i)(V), 1007(d)(1)(E)), which prohibit SSA from using a person as a representative payee when such person is a person described in sections 1611(e)(4)(A), 202(x)(1)(A)(iv), or 804(a)(2) of the Act.

The legal authority for SSA's disclosure of information to the Source Jurisdiction is: sections 1106(a), 1611(e)(5), 1631(a)(2)(B)(xiv), 202(x)(3)(C), 205(j)(2)(B)(iii) and 807(b)(3) of the Act; the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended by the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3)); and SSA's disclosure regulations promulgated at 20 C.F.R. 401.150. The settlement terms in Martinez v. Astrue and Clark v. Astrue do not restrict this disclosure authority in any manner.

D. Categories of Records and Persons Covered by the Matching Program

The Source Jurisdiction will identify individuals who are fleeing fugitive felons, probation violators, or parole violators in its records originating from various databases. The Source Jurisdiction will prepare and disclose its records electronically (e.g., Government to Government Services Online) with clear identification of the record source. SSA will match the following systems of records with the incoming Source Jurisdiction records to determine individuals who receive SSI, RSDI, SVB benefits, or individuals serving as representative payees: Supplemental Security Income Record/Special Veterans Benefits (SSR/SVB), SSA/ODSSIS (60-0103) Routine Use 28, last published on January 11, 2006 (71 FR 1830); Master Beneficiary Record (MBR), SSA/ORSIS (60-0090) Routine Use 2, last published on January 11, 2006 (71 FR 1826); Master Representative Payee File, SSA/NCC (60-0222) Routine Use 12, last published on April 19, 2013 (78 FR 23811); and, Master Files of Social Security Number Holders and SSN Applications, SSA/OTSO (60-0058) Routine Use 24, last published on December 29, 2010 (75 FR 82121).

E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program

The effective date of this matching program is October 10, 2014; if the following notice, periods have lapsed: 30 days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register and 40 days after notice of the matching program is sent to Congress and OMB. The matching program will continue for 18 months from the effective date and, if both agencies meet certain conditions, it may extend for an additional 12 months thereafter.

[*Federal RegisterJB 2014-04-15]

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