Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA)) Match Number 5001

AGENCY:

Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION:

Notice of a renewal of an existing computer matching program that will expire on April 9, 2012.

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 LEA.

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 Acting Executive Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel, 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 Acting 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 (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;

(2) Obtain the 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.

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

A. Participating Agencies

SSA and LEA

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

The purpose of this matching program is to establish terms, conditions, and safeguards under which we will conduct a computer matching program with law enforcement agencies and source jurisdictions (LEA or 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) Fugitive felons, parole violators, or probation violators, as defined by the Social Security Act (Act), 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 SSI payments, or RSDI 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 SSI payments, or RSDI 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), SSA's nonpayment of benefits under these sections of the Act is limited to individuals with certain flight- or escape-coded 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 CFR 401.150.

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

The Source Jurisdiction will identify individuals who are fugitive felons, parole violators, or probation violators in its records originating from various databases. The Source Jurisdiction will prepare and disclose its records electronically with clear identification of the record source. We 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: Our Supplemental Security Income Record/Special Veterans Benefits SSA/ODSSIS (60-0103), the Master Beneficiary Record SSA/ORSIS (60-0090), the Master Representative Payee File System SSA/OISP (60-0222), and the Master Files of Social Security Number Holders and SSN Applications (the Enumeration System) SSA/OSR (60-0058).

E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program

The effective date of this matching program is April 10, 2012 provided that 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 may be extended for an additional 12 months thereafter, if certain conditions are met.