[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 90 (Friday, May 9, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 25679]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-12068]


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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD


Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988; Notice of 
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 under the Railroad 
Retirement Act.

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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, P.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; and a third 
notice was published at 59 FR 64441 (12-14-94) covering the third 
cycle. New agreements are being negotiated for continuing the matching 
program beyond the third 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 for 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. The 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. Sec. 231b(a), 45 U.S.C. Sec. 231c(a) and 45 
U.S.C. Sec. 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. Sec. 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. Sec. 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. Sec. (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. Sec. 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 in May 1997 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 the Office of Management 
and Budget and the designated committees of both houses of Congress.

    Dated: May 1, 1997.

    By Authority of the Board.
Beatrice Ezerski,
Secretary to the Board.
[FR Doc. 97-12068 Filed 5-8-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-M