SSN Justification for DEERS

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
DEFENSE HUMAN RESOURCES ACTIVITY
DEFENSE MANPOWER DATA CENTER
4800 MARK CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 04E25-01
ALEXANDRIA, VA 22350-6000

May 09, 2018
MEMORANDUM FOR DEFENSE PRIVACY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES OFFICE

signed by
WASHINGTO Digitally
WASHINGTON.DENISE.F
N.DENISE.F.12 .1259517547
Date: 2018.05.10
59517547
14:22:18 -04'00'

THROUGH: RECORDS, PRIVACY AND DECLASSIFICATION DIVISION (RPDD)
SUBJECT: Justification for the Use of the Social Security Number (SSN) in Defense
Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) (DITPR ID 1391)
This memorandum is to satisfy the requirements of the Department of Defense
Instruction (DoDI) 1000.30, “Reduction of Social Security Number (SSN) Use Within DoD,”
requiring justification to collect and use the SSN in Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting
System (DEERS).
The purpose of DEERS is to provide a database for determining eligibility to DoD
entitlements and privileges; to support DoD health care management programs; to provide
identification of deceased members; to manage the issuance of DoD badges and identification
cards; and to detect fraud and abuse of the benefit programs by claimants and providers to
include appropriate collection actions arising out of any debts incurred as a consequence of such
programs. DEERS is also used to authenticate and identify DoD affiliated personnel (e.g.,
contractors); to assess manpower, support personnel and readiness functions; to perform
statistical analyses; identify current DoD civilian and military personnel for purposes of
detecting fraud and abuse of benefit programs; to register current DoD civilian and military
personnel and their authorized dependents for purposes of obtaining medical examination,
treatment or other benefits to which they are entitled; to ensure benefit eligibility is retained after
separation from the military; information will be used by agency officials and employees, or
authorized contractors, and other DoD Components for personnel and manpower studies; and to
assist in recruiting prior-service personnel. Other Federal state agencies, and consumer reporting
agencies require data from DEERS for processing of benefits, computer matching, identity
validation, determining eligibility for programs, and/or conducting veterans outreach programs.
As required in DoDI 1000.30, the acceptable use for the Social Security Number (SSN)
has been identified as 08 Computer Matching and 13 Other Cases. DEERS completes computer
matching with federal agencies. Use of the SSN is the only common identifier between DoD and
other federal, state and consumer reporting agencies. As the originating system for the DoD ID
Number, DEERS requires the use of SSN to assist other DoD agencies in complying with DoDI
1000.30.
DEERS makes every effort to use the DoD ID Number in lieu of the SSN within the DoD
and facilitates the use of the DoD ID Number throughout the Department. DEERS also
communicates to the Department of Veteran Affairs using the DoD ID Number, eliminating the

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
DEFENSE HUMAN RESOURCES ACTIVITY
DEFENSE MANPOWER DATA CENTER
4800 MARK CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 04E25-01
ALEXANDRIA, VA 22350-6000

exchange of SSN for millions of records per year, as well as to communicate with the
Transportation Security Agency for administering Secure Flight PreCheck.
The data collected is covered by System of Record Notice (SORN) DMDC 02 DoD,
“Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS),” which provides the authorities to
collect, and is available at: http://dpcld.defense.gov/Privacy/SORNsIndex/DOD-wide-SORNArticle-View/Article/627618/dmdc-02-dod/. The DEERS SORN is currently being modified.
DEERS is secured to protect (PII) in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 and DoD 5400.11R, “Department of Defense Privacy Program.”
SORRENTO.MICH
AEL.V.1399639162

Digitally signed by
SORRENTO.MICHAEL.V.139963
9162
Date: 2018.05.09 14:22:57 -04'00'

Michael V. Sorrento
Director