[Federal Register: April 29, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 82)]
[Notices]               
[Page 23163]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29ap99-130]

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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

 
Privacy Act of 1974; Report of Amended Matching Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs 
(VA) intends to conduct a recurring computer program matching Social 
Security Administration (SSA) records with VA pension and parents' 
dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) records, and records of 
those veterans receiving total compensation benefits because of 
unemployability.
    The goal of this match is to provide VA with data from income tax 
return information disclosed to SSA.
    VA plans to match records of VA beneficiaries receiving income 
dependent benefits and to adjust VA income dependent benefits. VA will 
also use SSA's wage and self employment income records to determine the 
continued eligibility for VA compensation benefits of those individuals 
who are receiving disability compensation at the 100 percent rate 
because of unemployability.
    VA will use this information to adjust VA benefit payments as 
prescribed by law. The proposed matching program will enable VA to 
ensure accurate reporting of income.

RECORDS TO BE MATCHED: The VA records involved in the match are the VA 
system of records, Compesnation, Pension, Education and Rehabilitation 
Records--VA (58 VA 21/22) first published at 41 FR 9294, March 3, 1976 
and last amended at 63 FR 37941 (July 14, 1998). The SSA records 
consist of return information with respect to net earnings from self 
employment and wages, to Federal, State and local agencies 
administering certain benefit programs from the system of records 
identified as Earnings Recording and Self Employment System, HHS/SSA/
OSR, 09-60-0059. In accordance with Title 5 U.S.C. subsection 
552a(o)(2) and (r), copies of the agreement are being sent to both 
Houses of Congress and to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
    This notice is provided in accordance with the provisions of the 
Privacy Act of 1974 as amended by Pub. L. 100-503.

DATES: The match will start no sooner than 30 days after publication of 
this Notice in the Federal Registert, or 40 days after copies of this 
Notice and the agreement of the parties is submitted to Congress and 
OMB, whichever is later, and end not more than 18 months after the 
agreement is properly implemented by the parties. The involved 
agencies' Data Integrity Boards (DIB) may extend this match for 12 
months provided the agencies certify to their DIBs within three months 
of the ending date of the original match that the matching program will 
be conducted without change and that the matching program has been 
conducted in compliance with the original matching program.

ADDRESSES: Interested individuals may submit written comments to the 
Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of 
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 
20420. Comments will be available for public inspection at the above 
address in the Office of Regulations Management, Room 1158, between 8 
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, except holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Grill (212), (202) 273-7234.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This information is required by Title 5 
U.S.C. subsection 552a(e)(12), the Privacy Act of 1974. A copy of this 
notice has been provided to both Houses of Congress and OMB.

    Approved: April 26, 1999.
Togo D. West, Jr.,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 99-10824 Filed 4-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-M