Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 121.djvu/1856

 PUBLIC LAW 110–157—DEC. 26, 2007

121 STAT. 1835

relating to an individual without the prior written consent of such individual (or of a person legally authorized to consent on behalf of such individual). ‘‘(G) EXPIRATION OF AUTHORITY.—The authority under this paragraph shall expire on September 30, 2011.’’. (b) AMENDMENTS TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AUTHORITY.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 53 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 5317 the following new section:

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‘‘§ 5317A. Use of income information from other agencies: independent verification required before termination or reduction of certain benefits and services ‘‘(a) INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION REQUIRED.—The Secretary may terminate, deny, suspend, or reduce any benefit or service specified in section 5317(c), with respect to an individual under age 65 who is an applicant for or recipient of such a benefit or service, by reason of information obtained from the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 453(j)(11) of the Social Security Act, only if the Secretary takes appropriate steps to verify independently information relating to the individual’s employment and income from employment. ‘‘(b) OPPORTUNITY TO CONTEST FINDINGS.—The Secretary shall inform each individual for whom the Secretary terminates, denies, suspends, or reduces any benefit or service under subsection (a) of the findings made by the Secretary under such subsection on the basis of verified information and shall provide to the individual an opportunity to contest such findings in the same manner as applies to other information and findings relating to eligibility for the benefit or service involved. ‘‘(c) SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR REIMBURSEMENT TO SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.—The Secretary shall pay the expense of reimbursing the Secretary of Health and Human Services in accordance with section 453(j)(11)(E) of the Social Security Act, for the cost incurred by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in furnishing information requested by the Secretary under section 453(j)(11) of such Act, from amounts available to the Department for the payment of compensation and pensions. ‘‘(d) EXPIRATION OF AUTHORITY.—The authority under this section shall expire on September 30, 2011.’’.

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