[Federal Register: February 12, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 29)]
[Notices]
[Page 9825-9826]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12fe01-27]
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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.
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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, a notice is hereby
given of a computer matching program between the U.S. Department of
Education (ED) (the recipient agency), and the Social Security
Administration (SSA) (the source agency). This computer matching
program between SSA and ED will become effective as explained 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, we provide the following
information:
1. Names of Participating Agencies
The U.S. Department of Education and the Social Security
Administration.
2. Purpose of the Match
The purpose of this matching program between ED and SSA is to
assist the Secretary of Education in his obligation to ``verify
immigration status and social security numbers [SSN] provided by a
student to an eligible institution'' under 20 U.S.C. 1091(g) and (p).
The SSA will verify the issuance of an SSN to, and the citizenship
status of, those students and parents who provide their SSN's in the
course of applying for aid under a student financial assistance program
authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA).
Verification of this information by SSA will help ED to satisfy its
obligation to ensure that the individual applying for financial
assistance meets eligibility requirements imposed by the HEA.
Verification by this computer matching program effectuates the
purpose of the statute, because it provides an efficient and
comprehensive method of verifying the accuracy of each individual's SSN
and claim to a citizenship status that permits that individual to
qualify for Title IV, HEA assistance.
3. Legal Authority for Conducting the Matching Program
ED is authorized to participate in the matching program under
sections 484(p)(20 U.S.C. 1091(p)); 484(g)(20 U.S.C.1091(g));
483(a)(7)(20 U.S.C. 1090(a)(7)) and 428B(f)(2)(20 U.S.C. 1078-2(f)(2))
of the HEA.
The SSA is authorized to participate in the matching program under
section 1106(a) of the Social Security Act, (42 U.S.C. 1306(a)), and
the regulations promulgated pursuant to that section (20 CFR part 401).
4. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Match
The Federal Student Aid Application File (18-11-01) (which contains
the applicant information on authority from ED) and the ED PIN
Registration System of Records (18-11-12) (which contains the
applicant's information to receive an ED PIN), will be matched against
SSA's Master Files of Social Security Numbers Holders and SSN
Applications System, SSA/OSR, 60-0058 which maintains records about
each individual who has applied for and obtained an SSN.
5. Effective Dates of the Matching Program.
This matching program will become effective after the Data
Integrity Board of each agency approves the agreement and either 40
days after the approved agreement is sent to Congress and 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. 552a(o)(2)(D) have
been met.
6. Address for Receipt of Public Comments or Inquires
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, Management and Program Analyst, U.S. Department of
Education, Room 4021, ROB-3 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20202-5400. Telephone: (202) 708-5591. If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal Information Relay
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape or computer
diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding
paragraph.
Electronic Access to the Document
You may view this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe
Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following sites:
http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm
http://www.ed.gov/news.html
http://ifap.ed.gov
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at the first of the previous sites. If you have questions about
using PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free,
at 1-888-293-6498, or in the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register.
Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal
Register and Code
[[Page 9826]]
of Federal Regulations is available on GPO access at: http://
www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html
Dated: February 6, 2001.
Greg Woods,
Chief Operating Officer, Office of Student Financial Assistance.
[FR Doc. 01-3422 Filed 2-9-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-U