[Federal Register: December 1, 1995 (Volume 60, Number 231)] [Notices] [Page 61687] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program; Notice AGENCY: Department of Education. ACTION: Notice of Computer Matching Programs to comply with Public Law (Pub. L.) 100-503, the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Section 484(p) of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) requires the Secretary of Education, in cooperation with the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), to verify any social security number (SSN) provided by an applicant for student financial assistance. Section 484(g) of the HEA authorizes the Secretary to verify statements provided by title IV applicants with regard to their citizenship and immigration status, using an automated or other system of verification. In order to ensure that applicants for title IV student financial assistance have a valid SSN and citizenship status for the purpose of meeting eligibility requirements under the title IV programs, the Department of Education (ED) and the SSA will exchange relevant verifying information using a computer matching program. The purpose of this notice is to announce the operation of the computer matching program and to provide certain required information concerning the computer matching program. In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) as amended by the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-503), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines on the Conduct of Matching Programs (see 54 FR at 25818, June 19, 1989), and OMB Circular A-130, the following information is provided: 1. Names of Participating Agencies The Department of Education and the Social Security Administration. 2. Purpose of the Match Section 484(p) of the HEA requires ED to verify the SSN provided by any applicant for assistance under title IV of that Act. Section 484(g) of the HEA authorizes the Secretary to verify statements provided by title IV applicants with regard to their citizenship and immigration status using an automated or other system, with other Federal agencies that may be in possession of information relevant to such statements and supporting documentation. The purpose of this new matching program is to expand ED's matching program that verifies the accuracy of each applicant's SSN. The expanded matching program will further verify the accuracy of applicant claims of U.S. citizenship. The new match will supplement the Department's ability to track title IV loan defaulters using SSNs, by preventing disbursements of title IV assistance to applicants whose citizenship status do not comply with the requirements of section 484(a)(5) of the HEA. 3. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program Sections 484 (g) and (p) of the HEA; Section 1106(a) of the Social Security Act. 4. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Match ED will submit for verification from its Central Processing Systems files the SSN and other identifying information for each applicant for title IV assistance. This information will be matched against the SSA Numident, which contains the SSN, citizenship status and identifying information for all SSN holders. 5. Effective Dates of the Matching Program The matching program will become effective 40 days after a copy of the agreement, as approved by the Data Integrity Board of each agency, is sent to Congress and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) (or later if OMB objects to some or all of the agreement), or 30 days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register, whichever date is later. The matching program will continue for 18 months after the effective date and may be extended for an additional 12 months thereafter, if the conditions specified in 5 U.S.C. 522a(o)(2)(D) have been met. 6. Address for Receipt of Public Comments or Inquiries Individuals wishing to comment on this matching program or obtain additional information about the program including a copy of the computer matching agreement between ED and SSA should contact Ms. Edith Bell, Program Specialist, Policy Development Division, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue SW, (Room 3053, ROB-3), Washington, DC 20202, Telephone (202) 708-7888. Written comments should be submitted to Ms. Bell at this address. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday. Dated: November 27, 1995. David A. Longanecker, Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education. [FR Doc. 95-29338 Filed 11-30-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P