[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 239 (Wednesday, December 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-30617]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 14, 1994]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD

 

Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988; RRB Records 
Used in Computer Matching

AGENCY: Railroad Retirement Board (RRB).

ACTION: Notice of Records Used in Computer Matching Programs. 
Notification to individuals who are beneficiaries used the Railroad 
Retirement Act.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: As required by the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection 
Act of 1988, RRB is issuing public notice of its use and intent to use, 
in ongoing computer matching programs, information obtained from the 
Social Security Administration (SSA) of the amount of wages reported to 
SSA and the amount of benefits paid by that agency.
    The purpose of this notice is to advise individuals applying for or 
receiving benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act of the use made by 
RRB of this information obtained from SSA by means of a computer match.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may comment on this publication by 
writing to Ms. Beatrice Ezerski, Secretary to the Board, Railroad 
Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. LeRoy Blommaert, Privacy Act 
Officer, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, 
Illinois 60611-2092, telephone number (312) 751-4548.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection 
Act of 1988, Pub. L. 100-503, requires a Federal agency participating 
in a computer matching program to publish a notice regarding the 
establishment of a matching program. The required notice was first 
published at 54 FR 26282 (June 22, 1989). A second notice was published 
at 57 FR 23115 (June 1, 1992) covering the second cycle. New agreements 
are being negotiated for continuing the matching program beyond the 
second cycle's initial 18-month and additional 12-month periods; hence, 
the need for a new notice.

Name of Participating Agencies

    Social Security Administration and Railroad Retirement Board.

Purpose of the Match

    The RRB will, on a daily basis, obtain from SSA a record of the 
wages reported to SSA from persons who have applied for benefits under 
the Railroad Retirement Act and a record of the amount of benefits paid 
by that agency to persons who are receiving or have applied for 
benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act. That wage information is 
needed to compute the amount of the tier I annuity component provided 
by sections 3(a), 4(a) and 4(f) of the Railroad Retirement Act (45 
U.S.C. 231b(a), 45 U.S.C. 231c(a) and 45 U.S.C. 231c(f). This 
information is available from no other source.
    In addition, the RRB will receive from SSA the amount of certain 
social security benefits which the RRB pays on behalf of SSA. Section 
7(b)(2) of the Railroad Retirement Act (45 U.S.C. 231f(b)(2)) provides 
that the RRB shall make the payment of certain social security 
benefits. The RRB also requires this information in order to adjust the 
amount of any annuity due to the receipt of a social security benefit. 
Section 10(a) of the Railroad Retirement Act (45 U.S.C. 231i(a)) 
permits the RRB to recover any overpayment from the accrual of social 
security benefits. This information is not available from any other 
source.
    Finally, the RRB will receive from SSA once a year a copy of SSA's 
Master Benefit Record for earmarked RRB annuitants. Section 7(b)(7)) of 
the Railroad Retirement Act (45 U.S.C. (b)(7) requires that SSA provide 
the requested information. The RRB needs this information to make the 
necessary cost-of-living computation quickly and accurately for those 
RRB annuitants who are also SSA beneficiaries.

Authority for Conducting the Match

    Section 7(b)(7) of the Railroad Retirement Act (45 U.S.C. 
231f(h)(7)) provides that the Social Security Administration shall 
supply information necessary to administer the Railroad Retirement Act.

Categories of Records and Individuals Covered

    All applicants for benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act and 
current beneficiaries will have a record of their wages and the amount 
of their social security benefits requested from the Social Security 
Administration.

Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program

    It is estimated that these matches will commence on January 22, 
1995, and will run for the full 18 months of the agreement.
    The notice we are giving here is in addition to any individual 
notice.
    A copy of this notice will be furnished to both Houses of Congress 
and the Office of Management and Budget.

    Dated: December 7, 1994.

    By authority of the Board.
Beatrice Ezerski,
Secretary to the Board.
[FR Doc. 94-30617 Filed 12-13-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-M