A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

The Department of Education (ED) PIN (Personal Identification Number) Registration System.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

18-11-12

System name:
The Department of Education (ED) PIN (Personal Identification Number) Registration System.

Security classification:
None.

System location:

Categories of individuals covered by the system:
The ED PIN Registration System contains records about former, current and prospective students, and parents who apply for an ED PIN number. The ED PIN number is used for identification purposes when PIN holders access other Department of Education systems.

Categories of records in the system:
This system contains identification information such as name, Social Security Number (SSN), date of birth and address.

Authority for maintenance of the system:
The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C. 1092b.

Purpose(s):
This information contained in this system will be used to generate and confirm PIN numbers for those individuals wishing to access various student financial assistance systems (including FAFSA, Access America and the Direct Loan Program) to obtain information about their personal records. The ED PIN number that is generated and stored by this system can be used by individuals to electronically sign various student aid applications including the FAFSA and the Renewal FAFSA, and to initiate loan deferments or forbearance. The Department has plans to expand the use of the PIN to allow access to student financial aid systems outside of the Department.

Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories of users and the purposes of such uses:
The Department of Education (the Department) may disclose information contained in a record in this system of records under the routine uses listed in this system of records without the consent of the individual if the disclosure is compatible with the purposes for which the record was collected. These disclosures may be made on a case-by-case basis or, if the Department has complied with the computer matching requirements of the Act, under a computer matching agreement.

1. Disclosure for Use by Other Law Enforcement Agencies. The Department may disclose information to any Federal, State, local, or foreign agency or other public authority responsible for enforcing, investigating, or prosecuting violations of administrative, civil, or criminal law or regulation if that information is relevant to any enforcement, regulatory, investigative, or prosecutive responsibility within the receiving entity's jurisdiction.
2. Enforcement Disclosure. In the event that information in this system of records indicates, either on its face or in connection with other information, a violation or potential violation of any applicable statute, regulation, or order of a competent authority, the Department may disclose the relevant records to the appropriate agency, whether foreign, Federal, State, Tribal, or local, charged with the responsibility of investigating or prosecuting that violation or charged with enforcing or implementing the statute, executive order, rule, regulation, or order issued pursuant thereto.
3. Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Disclosures.
   1. Introduction. In the event that one of the parties listed below is involved in litigation or ADR, or has an interest in litigation or ADR, the Department may disclose certain records to the parties described in paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this routine use under the conditions specified in those paragraphs:
      1. The Department, or any component of the Department; or
      2. Any Department employee in his or her official capacity; or
      3. Any Department employee in his or her individual capacity if the Department of Justice (DOJ) has agreed to provide or arrange for representation for the employee;
      4. Any Department employee in his or her individual capacity where the agency has agreed to represent the employee; or
      5. The United States where the Department determines that the litigation is likely to affect the Department or any of its components.
   2. Disclosure to the DOJ. If the Department determines that disclosure of certain records to the DOJ is relevant and necessary to litigation or ADR, the Department may disclose those records as a routine use to the DOJ.
   3. Administrative Disclosures. If the Department determines that disclosure of certain records to an adjudicative body before which the Department is authorized to appear, an individual or entity designated by the Department or otherwise empowered to resolve or mediate disputes is relevant and necessary to the administrative litigation, the Department may disclose those records as a routine use to the adjudicative body, individual, or entity.
   4. Parties, counsels, representatives and witnesses. If the Department determines that disclosure of certain records to a party, counsel, representative or witness in an administrative proceeding is relevant and necessary to the litigation, the Department may disclose those records as a routine use to the party, counsel, representative or witness.
4. Employment, Benefit, and Contracting Disclosure.
   1. For Decisions by the Department. The Department may disclose a record to a Federal, State, or local agency maintaining civil, criminal, or other relevant enforcement or other pertinent records, or to another public authority or professional organization, if necessary to obtain information relevant to a Department decision concerning the hiring or retention of an employee or other personnel action, the issuance of a security clearance, the letting of a contract, or the issuance of a license, grant, or other benefit.
   2. For Decisions by Other Public Agencies and Professional Organizations. The Department may disclose a record to a Federal, State, local, or foreign agency or other public authority or professional organization, in connection with the hiring or retention of an employee or other personnel action, the issuance of a security clearance, the reporting of an investigation of an employee, the letting of a contract, or the issuance of a license, grant, or other benefit, to the extent that the record is relevant and necessary to the receiving entity's decision on the matter.
5. Employee Grievance, Complaint or Conduct Disclosure. The Department may disclose a record in this system of records to another agency of the Federal Government if the record is relevant to one of the following proceedings regarding a present or former employee of the Department: complaint, grievance, discipline or competence determination proceedings. The disclosure may only be made during the course of the proceeding.
6. Labor Organization Disclosure. A component of the Department may disclose records to a labor organization if a contract between the component and a labor organization recognized under Title V of the United States Code, Chapter 71, provides that the Department will disclose personal records relevant to the organization's mission. The disclosures will be made only as authorized by law.
7. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Advice Disclosure. The Department may disclose records to the Department of Justice and the Office of Management and Budget if the Department concludes that disclosure is desirable or necessary in determining whether particular records are required to be disclosed under the FOIA.
8. Disclosure to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The Department may disclose records to the DOJ to the extent necessary for obtaining DOJ advice on any matter relevant to an audit, inspection, or other inquiry related to the programs covered by this system.
9. Contract Disclosure. If the Department contracts with an entity for the purposes of performing any function that requires disclosure of records in this system to employees of the contractor, the Department may disclose the records to those employees. Before entering into such a contract, the Department shall require the contractor to maintain Privacy Act safeguards as required under 5 U.S.C. 552a(m) with respect to the records in the system.
10. Research Disclosure. The Department may disclose records to a researcher if an appropriate official of the Department determines that the individual or organization to which the disclosure would be made is qualified to carry out specific research related to functions or purposes of this system of records. The official may disclose records from this system of records to that researcher solely for the purpose of carrying out that research related to the functions or purposes of this system of records. The researcher shall be required to maintain Privacy Act safeguards with respect to the disclosed records.
11. Congressional Member Disclosure. The Department may disclose records to a member of Congress from the record of an individual in response to an inquiry from the member made at the written request of that individual. The Member's right to the information is no greater than the right of the individual who requested it.
12. Disclosure to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Credit Reform Act (CRA) Support. The Department may disclose records to OMB as necessary to fulfill CRA requirements.
13. Identification Verification Disclosure. In order to verify the identity of the applicant involved, the accuracy of the record, or to assist with the determination of program eligibility and benefits or potential eligibility or benefits, the Department may disclose records from this system to the applicant, guaranty agencies, educational institutions, financial institutions and servicers, and to Federal and State agencies.

Disclosure to consumer reporting agencies:
Disclosures pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(12): The Department may disclose to a consumer reporting agency information regarding a claim by the Department which is determined to be valid and overdue as follows: (1) The name, address, taxpayer identification number and other information necessary to establish the identity of the individual responsible for the claim; (2) the amount, status, and history of the claim; and (3) the program under which the claim arose. The Department may disclose the information specified in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(12) and the procedures contained in subsection 31 U.S.C. 3711(e). A consumer reporting agency to which these disclosures may be made is defined at 31 U.S.C. 3701(a)(3).

Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, and disposing of records in the system:

Storage:
Records are stored electronically on magnetic tape.

Retrievability:
The file is indexed by social security number or name.

Safeguards:
All physical access to the Department site, and the sites of Department contractors where this system of records is maintained, is controlled and monitored by security personnel who check each individual entering the building for his or her employee or visitor badge.

The computer system employed by the Department offers a high degree of resistance to tampering and circumvention. This security system limits data access to Department and contract staff on a "need to know" basis, and controls individual users' ability to access and alter records within the system. All users of this system of records are given a unique user ID with personal identifiers. All interactions by individual users with the system are recorded.

Retention and disposal:
Records will be retained 3 years after payment of loan, or after audit resolution.

System manager(s) and address:

Notification procedure:
If you wish to determine whether a record exists regarding you in the system of records, provide the system manager with your name, date of birth, social security number. Your request must meet the requirements of the Department's Privacy Act regulations at 34 CFR 5b.5, including proof of identity. You may present your request in person at any of the locations identified for this system of records or address your request to the system manager at the address above.

Record access procedures:
If you wish to gain access to a record regarding you in the system of records, you can visit the ED PIN Web site, call the FAFSA on the Web phone number listed on the Web site, or contact the system manager at the address given above. Your request must meet the requirements of the Department's Privacy Act regulations at 34 CFR 5b.5, including proof of identity.

Contesting record procedures:
If you wish to contest the content of a record regarding you in the system of records, you can contact the Customer Service Department at the telephone number listed on the ED PIN web site. Your request must meet the requirements of the Department's Privacy Act regulations at 34 CFR 5b.7.

If your SSN does not match as a result of an incorrect SSN, you will need to contact the local office of the Social Security Administration (SSA) for a SSN correction.

Record source categories:
The identifying information (SSN, DOB and name) is currently collected from the ED PIN Registration Web site, from the FAFSA, and the Direct Loan borrower database. In the future, the Department may provide alternate means for collecting the identifying information.

System exempted from certain provisions of the act:
None.