Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

AGENCY:

Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION:

Notice of a new matching program.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new matching program with the Department of Labor (DOL).

DATES:

Submit comments on the proposed matching program on or before May 23, 2022. The matching program will be applicable on May 25, 2022, 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-2021-0042 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 https://www.regulations.gov. Use the Search function to find docket number SSA-2021-0042 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 (410) 966-0869.

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 Matthew.Ramsey@ssa.gov. Comments are also available for public viewing on the Federal eRulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov 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 Melissa Feldhan, 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) 965-1416, or send an email to Melissa.Feldhan@ssa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under this matching program, DOL will disclose the DOL-administered Part B Black Lung (BL) benefit data to SSA. SSA will match DOL's Part B BL data with SSA's records of persons receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to verify that Part B BL beneficiaries are receiving the correct amount of SSI payments.

Participating Agencies: SSA and DOL.

Authority for Conducting the Matching Program: The legal authority for this agreement is section 1631(f) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1383(f). This legal authority requires any Federal agency to provide SSA with information in its possession that SSA may require for making a determination of eligibility for, or the proper amount, of SSI payments.

Purpose(s): This agreement establishes the terms, conditions, and safeguards under which DOL will disclose the DOL-administered Part B BL benefit data to SSA. SSA will match DOL's Part B BL data with SSA's records of persons receiving SSI to verify that Part B BL beneficiaries are receiving the correct amount of SSI payments.

Categories of Individuals: The individuals whose information is involved in this matching program are those individuals who are receiving Part B BL benefits and SSI benefits.

Categories of Records: DOL's monthly extract file will contain each Part B BL beneficiary's Social Security number (SSN), name, date of birth, date of entitlement, payment status, current benefit amount, and effective date of the current benefit amount. SSA will determine which of the recipients are receiving SSI payments and match the DOL data against the SSN, type of action code, and income type for those recipients in SSA's Supplemental Security Income Record and Special Veterans Benefits (SSR/SVB) system of records.

System(s) of Records: SSA will match the DOL extract file against the SSR/SVB (60-0103) system of records, last fully published on January 11, 2006 (71 FR 1830), as amended on December 10, 2007 (72 FR 69723), July 3, 2018 (83 FR 31250-31251), and November 1, 2018 (83 FR 54969). DOL's extract file is from DOL's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, BL Benefit Payments file (OWCP-9), last fully published on April 29, 2016 (81 FR 25765).