[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 20, Volume 2]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 20CFR401.165]

[Page 18-19]
 
                      TITLE 20--EMPLOYEES' BENEFITS
 
               CHAPTER III--SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
 
PART 401_PRIVACY AND DISCLOSURE OF OFFICIAL RECORDS AND INFORMATION--Table 
of Contents
 
        Subpart C_Disclosure of Official Records and Information
 
Sec. 401.165  Statistical and research activities.

    (a) General. Statistical and research activities often do not 
require information in a format that identifies specific individuals. 
Therefore, whenever possible, we release information for statistical or 
research purposes only in the form of aggregates or individual data that 
cannot be associated with a particular individual. The Privacy Act 
allows us to release records if there are safeguards that the record 
will be used solely as a statistical or research record and the 
individual cannot be identified from any information in the record.
    (b) Safeguards for disclosure with identifiers. The Privacy Act also 
allows us to disclose data for statistical and research purposes in a 
form allowing individual identification, pursuant to published routine 
use, when the purpose is compatible with the purpose for which the 
record was collected. We will disclose personally identifiable 
information for statistical and research purposes if--
    (1) We determine that the requestor needs the information in an 
identifiable form for a statistical or research activity, will use the 
information only for that purpose, and will protect individuals from 
unreasonable and unwanted contacts;
    (2) The activity is designed to increase knowledge about present or 
alternative social security programs or

[[Page 19]]

other Federal or State income-maintenance or health-maintenance 
programs, or consists of epidemiological or similar research; and
    (3) The recipient will keep the information as a system of 
statistical records, will follow appropriate safeguards, and agrees to 
our on-site inspection of those safeguards so we can be sure the 
information is used or redisclosed only for statistical or research 
purposes. No redisclosure of the information may be made without SSA's 
approval.
    (c) Statistical record. A statistical record is a record in a system 
of records which is maintained only for statistical and research 
purposes, and which is not used to make any determination about an 
individual. We maintain and use statistical records only for statistical 
and research purposes. We may disclose a statistical record if the 
conditions in paragraph (b) of this section are met.
    (d) Compiling of records. Where a request for information for 
statistical and research purposes would require us to compile records, 
and doing that would be administratively burdensome to ongoing SSA 
operations, we may decline to furnish the information.