[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 134 (Thursday, July 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40747-40748]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-13827]


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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT


Privacy Act of 1994; Computer Matching Programs; Office of 
Personnel Management/Social Security Administration

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

ACTION: Publication of notice of computer matching to comply with 
Public Law 100-503, the Computer Matching and Privacy Act of 1988.

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SUMMARY: OPM is re-publishing notice of its computer matching program 
with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to meet the reporting 
requirements of Pub. L. 100-503. The purpose of this match is to 
establish the conditions for disclosure of Social Security benefit 
information to OPM via direct computer link for the administration of 
programs by the Retirement Services Programs. OPM is legally required 
to offset specific benefits by a percentage of benefits payable under 
Title II of the Social Security Act. The matching will enable OPM to 
compute benefits at the correct rate and determine eligibility for 
benefits. This is a re-publication of the June 1, 2005, Federal 
Register notice announcing this matching program, providing several 
technical corrections to the notice previously published on the above 
date.

DATES: The matching program will begin 30 days after the Federal 
Register notice has been published or 40 days after the date of OPM's 
submissions of the letters to Congress and OMB, whichever is later. The 
matching program will continue for 18 months from the beginning date 
and may be extended an additional 12 months thereafter. The data 
exchange will begin at a date mutually agreed upon between OPM and SSA 
after July 2005, unless comments on the match are received that result 
in cancellation of the program. Subsequent matches will run as 
frequently as on a daily basis until one of the parties advises the 
other in writing of its intention to reevaluate, modify and/or 
terminate the agreement.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Marc Flaster, Chief, RIS Support Services 
Group, Office of Personnel Management, Room 1312, 1900 E. Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20415.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OPM and SSA intend to conduct a computer 
matching program. The purpose of this agreement is to establish the 
conditions under which SSA agrees to the disclosure of benefit 
information to OPM. The SSA records will be used in a matching program 
with OPM's records on surviving spouses who may be eligible to receive 
a Supplementary Annuity, disability retirees, and child survivor 
annuitants, under the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS). The 
benefits payable to these recipients are offset if paid while also in 
receipt of SSA benefits.
    The SSA components responsible for the disclosure are the Office of 
Income Security Programs. OPM, as the agency actually using the results 
of this matching activity in its programs, will publish the notice 
required by Title 5 United States Code (U.S.C.) 552a(e)(12) in the 
Federal Register.

Office of Personnel Management.
Linda M. Springer,
Director.

Report of Computer Matching Program Between the Office of Personnel 
Management and Social Security Administration

A. Participating Agencies

    OPM and SSA.

[[Page 40748]]

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    Chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code (U.S.C.) requires OPM to 
offset specific benefits by a percentage of benefits payable under 
Title II of the Social Security Act. The matching will enable OPM to 
compute benefits at the correct rate and determine eligibility for 
benefits.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    Chapter 84, title 5, United States Code.

D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Match

    The two SSA records systems involved in the match are (1) Master 
Files of Social Security Number (SSN) Holders and SSN Applications, 60-
0058 (SSA/OEEAS) and (2) the Master Beneficiary Record, 60-0090 (SSA-
ORSIS), The OPM records consist of annuity data from its system of 
records entitled OPM/Central 1--Civil Service Retirement and Insurance 
Records, last published on October 8, 1999, at 64 FR 54930, and as 
amended at 65 FR 25775, May 3, 2000.

E. Description of the Match and Records

    OPM will provide SSA an extract from the Annuity Master File and 
from pending claims snapshot records via the File Transfer Management 
System (FTMS). The extracted file will contain identifying information 
concerning the disability annuitant, child survivor, or surviving 
spouse who may be eligible for an annuity under FERS. Each record will 
be matched to SSA's records and requested information transmitted back 
to OPM.

F. Privacy Safeguards and Security

    Both SSA and OPM will safeguard information provided by the 
reciprocal agency as follows: Access to the records matched and to any 
records created by the match will be restricted to only those 
authorized employees and officials who need the records to perform 
their official duties in connection with the uses of the information 
authorized in the agreement. Records matched or created by this 
exchange will be stored in an area that is physically safe. Records 
used during this exchange will be processed under the immediate 
supervision and control of authorized personnel in a manner which will 
protect confidentiality of the records. Either OPM or SSA may make 
onsite inspection or make other provisions to ensure that adequate 
safeguards are being maintained by the other agency.

G. Disposal of Records

    Records causing closeout or suspend actions will be annotated and 
returned to OPM for record keeping purposes. All records returned to 
OPM are considered ``response'' records and any not used in the update 
process must be purged by SSA immediately after all processing is 
completed.

[FR Doc. 05-13827 Filed 7-13-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-38-P