[Notices] [Page 38063-38064] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr14jy98-148] [[Page 38063]] _______________________________________________________________________ Part V Department of Education _______________________________________________________________________ Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program; Notice [[Page 38064]] DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program AGENCY: Department of Education. ACTION: Notice--Computer Matching between the U.S. Department of Education and the Social Security Administration. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988, Pub. L. 100-503, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines on the Conduct of Matching Programs, notice is hereby given of the computer matching program between the U.S. Department of Education (ED) (the recipient agency), and the Social Security Administration (SSA) (the source agency). Notice of the matching program was originally published in the Federal Register on December 1, 1995 (60 FR 61687); the program was effective on January 1, 1996. Duration was 18 months plus a one-year extension permitted by the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended by the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (5 U.S.C. 522a(o)(2)(D)). The one-year extension will expire on July 7, 1998. The following notice represents the approval of a new agreement by the SSA and ED Data Integrity Boards to continue the matching program on the effective date as indicated below. 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) Final Guidelines on the Conduct of Matching Programs (see 54 FR 25818, June 19, 1989), and OMB Circular A-130, the following information is provided: 1. Names of Participating Agencies The U.S. Department of Education and the Social Security Administration. 2. Purpose of the Match The purpose of the match is to verify any social security number (SSN) and citizenship status provided by an applicant for student financial assistance. Section 484(p) 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 SSN provided by an applicant for assistance under title IV of that Act. Section 484(g) of the HEA requires 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. This matching program provides an efficient and comprehensive method of verifying the accuracy of each applicant's SSN and claim to U.S. citizenship for the purpose of meeting eligibility requirements under the title IV programs. The matching program quickly identifies those applicants whose records indicate that they may not be U.S. citizens, who do not have valid SSNs or proof of U.S. citizenship to receive title IV funds. 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 System 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 20202-5447, Telephone (202) 708-8242. 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. Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the previous paragraph. Electronic Access to This Document Anyone may view this document, as well as all other Department of Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or portable document format (pdf) on the World Wide Web at either of the following sites: http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm http://www.ed.gov/news.html To use the pdf you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with Search, which is available free through either of the previous sites. If you have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government Printing Office at (202) 512-1530 or, toll free at 1-888-293-6498. Anyone may view these documents in text copy only on an electronic bulletin board of the Department. Telephone: (202) 219-1511 or, toll free, 1-800-222-4922. The documents are located under Option G--Files/ Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases. Note: The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Dated: July 6, 1998. David A. Longanecker, Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education. [FR Doc. 98-18698 Filed 7-13-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P