Federal Register: November 20, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 224)
DOCID: FR Doc 02-29375
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Veterans Affairs Department
NOTICE: NOTICES
ACTION: Privacy Act:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of Computer Matching Program.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program
EFFECTIVE DATES: This match will start no sooner than 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, unless comments dictate otherwise.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. section 552a, the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines on the Conduct of Matching Programs, notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) intends to conduct a computer matching program with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Data from the proposed match will be utilized to verify the unearned income (i.e., interest, dividends, etc.) of nonserviceconnected veterans, and those veterans who are zero percent serviceconnected (noncompensable), whose eligibility for VA medical care is based on their inability to defray the cost of medical care. These veterans supply household income information that includes their spouses and dependents at the time of application for VA health care benefits.
SUMMARY:
Computer matching programs,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
The Department of Veterans Affairs has a statutory authorization under 38 U.S.C. 5317, 38 U.S.C. 5106, 26 U.S.C. 6103 (1)(7)(D)(viii) and 5 U.S.C. 552a to establish matching agreements and request and use income information from other agencies for purposes of verification of income for determining eligibility for benefits. 38 U.S.C. 1710 (a)(2) (G), identifies those veterans whose basic eligibility for medical care benefits is dependent upon their financial status. Eligibility for nonserviceconnected and zero percent noncompensable serviceconnected veterans is determined based on the veteran's inability to defray the expenses for necessary care as defined in 38 U.S.C. 1722. This determination can impact their responsibility to participate in the cost of their care through copayments and their assignment to an enrollment priority group.
The goal of this match is to obtain IRS unearned income information data needed for the income verification process. The VA records involved in the match are ``Healthcare Eligibility Records'' (89VA19). The IRS records are from the Wage and Information Returns (IRP) Master File, Privacy Act System, Treasury IRS 22.061. A copy of this notice has been sent to both Houses of Congress and OMB.
This matching agreement expires June 30, 2003. The matches will not
continue past the legislative authorized date to obtain this information.
Approved: November 4, 2002.
Anthony J. Principi,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 0229375 Filed 111902; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 832001P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Kathleen E. Watkins, Assistant Director,
[[Page 70117]]
Income Verification Division, Health Eligibility Center, (404) 235
1340.