Revised March 31, 2025
XIV.1.1.aPurpose of Matching Programs
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) receives information on a regular basis from several Federal agencies and compares it to information used to determine the status of VA beneficiaries.The matches identify cases where there are apparent contradictions between information contained in VA records and information furnished by other Federal agencies that affect entitlement.Note: Regional offices will be informed of the dates the matches are conducted.
XIV.1.1.bDue Process Provisions
Information derived from the matches may be used to adjust VA benefit payments. However, due process provisions are required since matching program information is third-party information. Exceptions: The Social Security Administration (SSA) death master file match allows VA to
- suspend the beneficiary’s award, and
- generate a contemporaneous notice of the suspension to the beneficiary’s last known address.
References: For more information on
- due process provisions, see M21-1, Part I, Subpart i, 1.B, and
- the SSA death master file match, see M21-1, Part XIV, 2.B.
XIV.1.1.cFraud Referrals
Consider a fraud referral in all instances of failure to report income or other entitlement factors under the provisions of M21-1, Part X, Subpart iv, 3.A.
2Jurisdiction Over Reports From Matching Programs
This topic contains information on jurisdiction over reports from matching programs, including
- pension management center (PMC) responsibility, and
- Veterans Service Center (VSC) and Benefit Eligibility Support Team (BEST) responsibility.
Revised March 31, 2025
XIV.1.2.aPMC Responsibility
The pension management centers (PMCs) in Philadelphia, St. Paul and Milwaukee are responsible for receiving and processing all reports from matching programs involving pension and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation recipients, including reports from:
- Federal tax information match, including * upfront verification * the income verification match, and * post award audits (PAA)
- SSA verification match
- Social Security number match, and
- prison and fugitive felon match.
Note: PMCs are not responsible for reviewing PAAs related to total disability based on individual unemployability.Reference: For more information on PMC procedures, see M21-1, Part I, Subpart ii, 1.C.
XIV.1.2.bVSC and BEST Responsibility
The Veterans Service Center or Benefit Eligibility Support Team of jurisdiction is responsible for receiving and processing reports from
- the SSA prison match, based on the location of the claims folder, and
- matches involving compensation entitlement.
End of Part XIV, Chapter 1