Privacy Act: Computer matching programs,

[Federal Register: September 14, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 177)]

[Notices]

[Page 49817]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr14se99-133]

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4456-N-05]

Privacy Act of 1974; Notice of Planned Large-Scale Implementation of Computer Matching Program: Matching Tenant Data in Assisted Housing Programs

AGENCY: The Real Estate Assessment Center, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: During the fourth quarter of calendar year 1999, the Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) plans to implement the computer matching program, Privacy Act of 1974; Notice of Matching Program: Matching Tenant Data in Assisted Housing Programs, published in the Federal Register on December 9, 1998, for all tenants included in HUD's tenant databases. This computer matching program primarily involves identifying potential income discrepancies, i.e., income that tenants did not report as required when applying for initial or continued rental assistance. Further, the program involves initiating administrative or legal actions to resolve income discrepancies and any excess rental assistance tenants received. The Secretary of HUD has assigned the REAC with responsibility for the computer matching program and the related income verification program.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information regarding the large-scale computer matching and income verification program can be obtained from David L. Decker, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Real Estate Assessment Center, 451 Seventh Street, SW., Room 5156, Washington, DC 20410-5000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Since 1996 HUD has used Federal tax return data received from the Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service to conduct various computer matching and income verification projects. Those projects identified income discrepancies, i.e., income that tenants did not report as required when applying for initial or continued rental assistance. Further, the projects involve initiating administrative or legal actions to resolve income discrepancies. The most recent computer matching notice, Privacy Act of 1974; Notice of Matching Program: Matching Tenant Data in Assisted Housing Programs, published in the Federal Register on December 9, 1998, describes techniques used. The matching program covers rental assistance programs of HUD's Office of Housing and Office of Public and Indian Housing. To date, HUD has limited the computer matching to random samples of selected households and to 100 percent matching to tenants receiving rental assistance from specific public housing agencies.

To detect and deter abuses so that resources may be used to serve needy families, HUD plans to implement the computer matching nationwide during the fourth quarter of calendar year 1999. Computer matching results will be sent to tenants with potentially significant income discrepancies. Letters sent to tenants will request the tenants to disclose income data shown in the letter to their local rental assistance program administrators. A list of households with income discrepancies will be sent to the local administrators. HUD is precluded by law from disclosing the Federal tax return data to anyone other than the tenant. The REAC plans to publish instructions for administrators of HUD's rental assistance programs. The instructions will describe the processes to be used in resolving income discrepancies noted in the computer matching, and reporting on the same. HUD published a notice of proposed information collection on July 27, 1999.

Dated: August 9, 1999. Barbara L. Burkhalter, Deputy Director, Real Estate Assessment Center.

[FR Doc. 99-23922Filed9-13-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4210-01-M