[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 1, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 6143]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2418]



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


DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Privacy Act of 1974, As Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
OPM)

AGENCY: Social Security Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of Computer Matching Program.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as 
amended, this notice announces a computer matching program that SSA 
plans to conduct.

DATES: SSA will file a report of the subject matching program with the 
Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on 
Government Operations of the House of Representatives and the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. 
The matching program will be effective as indicated below.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may comment on this notice by either 
telefax to (410) 966-5138, or writing to the Associate Commissioner for 
Program and Integrity Reviews, 860 Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235. All comments received will be available 
for public inspection at this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Associate Commissioner for Program 
and Integrity Reviews as shown above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. General

    The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 
100-503) amended the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) by adding certain 
protections for individuals applying for and receiving Federal 
benefits. Section 7201 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 
(Pub. L. 101-508) further amended the Privacy Act regarding protections 
for such individuals. The Privacy Act, as amended, regulates the use of 
computer matching by Federal agencies when records in a system of 
records are matched with other Federal, State, or local government 
records. It requires Federal agencies involved in computer matching 
programs to:

(1) Negotiate written agreements with the other agency or agencies 
participating in the matching programs;
(2) Obtain the Data Integrity Boards' approval of the match agreements.
(3) Furnish detailed reports about matching programs to Congress and 
the Office of Management and Budget;
(4) Notify applicants and beneficiaries that their records are subject 
to matching; and
(5) Verify match findings before reducing, suspending, terminating, or 
denying an individual's benefits or payments.

B. SSA Computer Matches Subject to the Privacy Act

    We have taken action to ensure that all of SSA's computer matching 
programs comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act, as amended.

    Dated: January 19, 1995.
Shirley S. Chater,
Commissioner of Social Security.

Notice of Computer Matching Program, Social Security Administration 
(SSA) with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

    A. Participating agencies.
    SSA and OPM.
    B. Purpose of the matching program.
    The purpose of this matching program is to establish the conditions 
under which OPM agrees to the disclosure of civil service and payment 
data to SSA. SSA will use the match results to determine certain Social 
Security benefit reductions required by the Social Security Act (the 
Act) for individuals receiving pension or other benefits, including 
civil service benefits, apart from OASDI and SSI benefits provided 
under the Act in programs administered by SSA.
    C. Authority for conducting the matching program.
    Sections 202, 215(a)(7), 215(d)(3), 224 and 1631(e)(1)(B) of the 
Act.
    D. Categories of records and individuals covered by the match.
    OPM will provide SSA with a magnetic tape file extracted from the 
annuity and survivor masterfile. The extracted file will contain 
information about each new annuitant and annuitants whose pension 
amount has changed. Each record on the OPM file will be matched to 
SSA's Master Beneficiary Record (MBR), or Supplemental Security Income 
Record (SSR) to identify individuals potentially subject to benefit 
reductions under the statutory provisions listed above.
    E. Inclusive dates of the match.
    The matching program shall become effective 40 days after a copy of 
the agreement, as approved by the Data Integrity Boards (DIB) of both 
agencies, is sent to Congress and OMB (or later if OMB objects to some 
or all of the agreement), or 30 days after publication of this notice 
in the Federal Register, whichever is later. The matching program will 
continue for 18 months from the effective date and may be extended for 
an additional 12 months thereafter, if certain conditions are met. OPM 
will provide a tape on a monthly basis to SSA. The actual match will 
take place within the first week of each month.

[FR Doc. 95-2418 Filed 1-31-95; 8:45am]
BILLING CODE 4190-29P