SSA and VA New Matching Program Notice Re-establishment

Content

ACTION:

Notice of a new matching program.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a re-establishment of a matching program
with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). Under this matching program, VA will
provide SSA with compensation and pension payment data necessary to administer Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Special
Veterans Benefits (SVB) and to fulfill SSA's obligations for the Medicare Savings Program (MSP) and Medicare Prescription
Drug (Medicare Part D) subsidy (Extra Help).

DATES:

The deadline to submit comments on the proposed matching program is April 27, 2026.

The matching program will be applicable on May 11, 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-2025-0034
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-2025-0034 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 Matthew.Ramsey@ssa.gov. 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 Andrea.Huseth@ssa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This notice announces the re-establishment of a matching program that is set to expire between SSA and VA, which supports
SSA's efficient administration of its SSI and SVB programs and to fulfill SSA's obligations for the MSP and Extra Help.

Matthew Ramsey, Head, Privacy and Disclosure Policy, Law and Policy. Participating Agencies: SSA and VA/VBA.

Authority for Conducting the Matching Program: The legal authorities for SSA to conduct the matching program are sections 806(b), 1144, 1631(e)(1)(B) and (f), and 1860D-14(a)(3)
of the Social Security Act (Act) (42 U.S.C. 1006(b), 1320b-14, 1383(e)(1)(B) and (f), and 1395w-114(a)(3)).

The legal authority for VA to disclose information under the matching program is section 1631(f) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1383(f)),
which requires Federal agencies to provide such information as the Commissioner of Social Security needs for purposes of determining
eligibility for or amount of benefits, or verifying other information with respect thereto.

Section 1144(a)(1) and (b)(1) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-14(a)(1) and (b)(1)) requires SSA to take actions to notify individuals
about the availability of Medicare cost-sharing and subsidies for low-income individuals under Title XVIII of the Act (Medicare),
including MSP and Extra Help.

Section 1860D-14(a)(3) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-114(a)(3)) sets forth the eligibility determination requirements for Extra
Help.

Purpose(s): Under this matching program, VA will provide SSA with compensation and pension payment data necessary to administer SSI and
SVB and to fulfill SSA's obligations for the MSP and Extra Help. SSA will use VA compensation and pension payment data to
verify eligibility, or amount of payments, for SSI and SVB recipients. SSA will also use the VA compensation and pension payment
data to verify an individual's self-certification of eligibility for Extra Help. Additionally, SSA will use the VA compensation
and pension payment data to identify individuals who may qualify for Medicare cost-sharing assistance through the MSP or Extra
Help to contact these individuals about the availability of these programs.

Categories of Individuals: The individuals whose information is involved in this matching program are those individuals who are receiving VA compensation
or pension benefits and are matched with data in SSA's SSI Record and SVB system of records (SOR) or SSA's Medicare database
SOR.

Categories of Records: VA will provide SSA with electronic files

  containing compensation and pension payment data. SSA will match the VA data with its SSI/SVB payment information and Medicare
  database information. SSA will conduct the match using the Social Security number, name, date of birth, and VA claim number
  on the VA file, the SSI Record and SVB SOR, and the Medicare database SOR.

System(s) of Records: VA will provide SSA with electronic files containing compensation and pension payment data from its SOR entitled the “Compensation,
Pension, Education, and Veteran Readiness and Employment Records-VA” (58VA21/22/28), republished with updated name at 74 FR
14865 (April 1, 2009), and amended at 86 FR 61858 (November 8, 2021) and 90 FR 44464 (September 15, 2025).

SSA will match the VA compensation and pension payment data with SSI/SVB payment information maintained in its SOR entitled
“Supplemental Security Income Record and Special Veterans Benefits,” 60-0103, last fully published at 71 FR 1830 (January
11, 2006), and amended at 72 FR 69723 (December 10, 2007), 83 FR 31250-31251 (July 3, 2018), 83 FR 54969 (November 1, 2018),
89 FR 825 (January 5, 2024), 89 FR 14554 (February 27, 2024) and 90 FR 53413-53415 (November 25, 2025).

SSA will also match the VA information with its Medicare Database (MDB) File, 60-0321, last fully published at 71 FR 42159
(July 25, 2006), and amended at 72 FR 69723 (December 10, 2007), 83 FR 54969 (November 1, 2018), and 90 FR 53413-53415 (November
25, 2025).

[FR Doc. 2026-06011 Filed 3-26-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4191-02-P

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