Overview
Title
Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The government wants to check if people getting certain types of help, like money when they're sick, really need it. They're using a new way to look at people's work and jobless records by working together with another department.
Summary AI
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced a new matching program with the Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) under the Department of Health and Human Services. This program will allow SSA to access employment and unemployment data to help administer the Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Disability Insurance (DI), and Ticket-to-Work programs. The goal is to verify individuals' eligibility and payment amounts accurately. Public comments on the program are open until January 29, 2025, and the program will take effect shortly after, lasting for 18 months.
Abstract
In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new matching program with the United States Department of Health and Human Service, the Office of Child Support Services (OCSS). Under this matching program, OCSS will provide SSA with online query access to the National Directory of New Hires (NDNH) for administration of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Disability Insurance (DI), and Ticket-to-Work and Self-Sufficiency (Ticket) programs, and will provide SSA with quarterly wage and unemployment insurance data from NDNH through a batch match for administration of the SSI program.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document from the Federal Register announces a new matching program initiated by the Social Security Administration (SSA) in collaboration with the Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) under the Department of Health and Human Services. The program aims to improve the administration of various social service programs, particularly the Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Disability Insurance (DI), and Ticket-to-Work programs by allowing SSA to access employment and unemployment data. This access is intended to help the SSA verify individuals' eligibility and payment amounts more accurately.
General Summary
In simple terms, the matching program will aid in cross-referencing data between government agencies to ensure that the right individuals receive the correct benefits. The SSA will have access to a national database of new hires and unemployment records, which will help clarify and confirm the necessary information regarding the financial support provided to eligible individuals. Public opinions on this program are invited until January 29, 2025, with the program set to be implemented shortly after and running for 18 months.
Significant Issues and Concerns
Several issues arise from this document that could have various implications:
Lack of Cost Details: The document lacks specific information on the costs associated with this matching program. This absence could lead to concerns about possible unnecessary spending without proper oversight or transparency.
Data Security: There is no specific mention of security measures regarding the protection of personal information. Given the sensitive data involved, this omission raises potential privacy and cybersecurity concerns. Ensuring that individuals' private information remains protected should be a priority.
Complex Language: The legal and technical language used to describe the authority and procedures underlying this matching program may not be easily understandable to the general public. More accessible explanations or summaries could help laypersons gain a better understanding of how the program impacts them.
Reference Heavy: The document contains many references to specific legislative statutes and federal register notifications. These references could be confusing for individuals who are not familiar with these documents.
Data Elements Information: While the document describes the data elements to be exchanged, it does not explain why each specific element is necessary. This lack of explanation might raise questions about whether more data is being collected than necessary (data minimization), which is a principle of both data protection and privacy.
Impact on the General Public
For the general public, especially those potentially eligible for SSA programs, this matching initiative could mean more accurate determinations of eligibility and benefit amounts. It aims to enhance efficiency in managing public funds and ensures benefits are distributed to the right people. However, there could be concerns over privacy and information handling, as personal data will be shared between agencies.
Specific Stakeholder Impacts
Beneficiaries and Applicants: Individuals receiving benefits or applying to social security programs could be impacted both positively and negatively. On one hand, efficient data matching can result in faster processing and fewer errors in benefit determination. On the other hand, the implications of data sharing might raise privacy concerns.
Government Agencies: SSA and OCSS will likely experience increased efficiency in program administration, reduced errors in benefit calculations, and potentially reduced costs due to more accurate eligibility verifications.
Overall, this document outlines an initiative that could potentially streamline SSA program operations; however, it also highlights areas where clarity, cost transparency, and data security need to be prioritized to ensure the trust and protection of affected individuals.
Issues
• The document does not provide specific details about the costs associated with implementing the matching program, leaving potential concerns about wasteful spending unaddressed.
• There is no mention of specific measures for safeguarding personal information during the data exchange, which might be concerning given the sensitivity of data involved.
• The language regarding the authority for the matching program is technical and refers extensively to legal statutes, which could be difficult for laypersons to understand without additional context or explanation.
• The explanation of the system(s) of records involved includes numerous references to federal register notifications, which might be challenging for individuals unfamiliar with these references to follow.
• The document gives a detailed description of the data elements exchanged but does not explain the rationale or necessity for each specific element, which could raise concerns about data minimization and privacy.
• Potential ambiguity in the timeline for public comments and the start of the program: ‘The matching program will be applicable on January 29, 2025, or once a minimum of 30 days after publication of this notice has elapsed, whichever is later’, which may lead to confusion for stakeholders.