The eRulemaking Program
10/28/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/28/2026 06:57
Privacy Act; Matching Program
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No. SSA-2026-0364]
Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program
AGENCY:
Social Security Administration (SSA).
ACTION:
Notice of re-establishment of a matching program.
SUMMARY:
In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces the re-establishment of a matching program with the Department of War (DOW), Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC). Under this matching program, DOW will disclose military retirement payment and survivor benefit payment data to SSA. SSA will use the military retirement payment and survivor benefit payment data to verify information provided by applicants, recipients, deemors ( i.e., someone other than the eligible individual or eligible spouse whose income and resources are considered when determining an individual's eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and the amount of their payment), and beneficiaries of SSI payments and Special Veterans Benefits (SVB).
DATES:
The deadline to submit comments on the proposed matching program is November 27, 2026.
The matching program will be applicable on November 29, 2026, or once a minimum of 30 days after publication of this notice has elapsed, whichever is later. The matching program will be in effect for a period of 18 months.
ADDRESSES:
You may submit comments by any one of three methods-internet, fax, or mail. Do not submit the same comments multiple times or by more than one method. Regardless of which method you choose, please state that your comments refer to Docket No. SSA-2026-0364 so that we may associate your comments with the correct regulation.
Caution: You should be careful to include in your comments only information that you wish to make publicly available. We strongly urge you not to include in your comments any personal information, such as Social Security numbers or medical information.
1. Internet: We strongly recommend that you submit your comments via the internet. Please visit the Federal eRulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov. Use the Search function to find docket number SSA-2026-0364 and then submit your comments. The system will issue you a tracking number to confirm your submission. You will not be able to view your comment immediately because we must post each submission manually. It may take up to a week for your comments to be viewable.
2. Fax: Fax comments to (833) 410-1631.
3. Mail: Matthew Ramsey, Head of Privacy and Disclosure Policy, Law and Policy, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401, or emailing [email protected]. Comments are also available for public viewing on the Federal eRulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov or in person, during regular business hours, by arranging with the contact person identified below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Interested parties may submit general questions about the matching program to Andrea Huseth, Division Director, Privacy and Disclosure Policy, Law and Policy, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401, at telephone: (410) 608-9675, or send an email to [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
This is the reestablishment of a matching program that is set to expire between SSA and DOW, which supports SSA's efficient administration of its SSI and SVB Programs.
Matthew Ramsey,
Head of Privacy and Disclosure Policy, Law and Policy.
PARTICIPATING AGENCIES:
SSA and DOW.
AUTHORITY FOR CONDUCTING THE MATCHING PROGRAM:
The matching agreement between SSA and DOW is executed in compliance with the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended by the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988, and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder.
Legal authority for the disclosure under the agreement for SSA to conduct this matching activity is contained in section 1631(e)(1)(B) and (f) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1383(e)(1)(B) and (f)). The legal authority for this exchange is sections 806(b) and 1631(e)(1)(B) and (f) of the Social Security Act (Act) (42 U.S.C. 1006(b) and 1383(e)(1)(B) and (f)). SSA's legal authority to disclose data to DOW is section 1106(a) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1306(a)) and section (b)(3) of the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3)).
PURPOSE(S):
Under this matching program DOW will disclose military retirement payment and survivor benefit payment data to SSA. SSA will use the military retirement payment and survivor benefit payment data to verify information provided by applicants, recipients, deemors ( i.e., someone other than the eligible individual or eligible spouse whose income and resources are considered when determining an individual's eligibility for SSI and the amount of their payment), and beneficiaries of SSI payments and SVB.
CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS:
The individuals whose information is involved in this matching program are SSI and SVB applicants, recipients, deemors, and beneficiaries including retired members, or their survivors, of the Uniformed Services.
CATEGORIES OF RECORDS:
SSA will provide DOW with a quarterly finder file containing approximately 10 million records of individuals for whom SSA requests data to administer the SSI and SVB programs. SSA and DOW will use Social Security numbers to conduct the match. DOW will provide a response file containing miliary retirement payment and survivor benefit payment data for matched records.
SYSTEM(S) OF RECORDS:
The relevant SSA system of records Systems of Records (SOR) is "Supplemental Security Income Record and Special Veterans Benefits," 60 0103. The SOR Notice (SORN) was fully published on January 11, 2006 (71 FR 1830) and updated on December 10, 2007 (72 FR 69723), July 3, 2018 (83 FR 31250-31251), November 1, 2018 (83 FR 54969), January 5, 2024 (89 FR 825), February 27, 2024 (89 FR 14554) and November 25, 2025 (90 FR 53413). The relevant DOW SOR is DMDC 01, entitled "Uniformed Services Human Resources Information System," last published in full on March 3, 2026 (91 FR 10373).
[FR Doc. 2026-21946 Filed 10-27-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P
The eRulemaking Program published this content on October 28, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 28, 2026 at 12:57 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]