[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11979-11980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4202]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No. SSA 2008-0010]


Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended; Computer Matching Program; (SSA/
Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Match Numbers 1005, 1019, 1020, 
1021)

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice of the renewal of an existing computer matching program 
which is scheduled to expire on April 6, 2008.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as 
amended, this notice announces the renewal of an existing computer 
matching program that SSA is currently conducting with OPM.

DATES: SSA will file a report of the subject matching program with the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; 
the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of 
Representatives; and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The renewal of the matching 
program will be effective as indicated below.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may comment on this notice by either 
telefax to (410) 965-0201 or writing to the Deputy Commissioner for 
Budget, Finance and Management, 800 Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401. All comments received will be 
available for public inspection at this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Deputy Commissioner for Budget, 
Finance and Management 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 describing the 
conditions under which computer matching involving the Federal 
government could be performed and 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 approval of the matching agreement by the Data 
Integrity Boards (DIB) of the participating Federal agencies;
    (3) Publish notice of the computer matching program in the Federal 
Register;
    (4) Furnish detailed reports about matching programs to Congress 
and OMB;
    (5) Notify applicants and beneficiaries that their records are 
subject to matching; and
    (6) 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.


[[Page 11980]]


    Dated: February 20, 2008.
 Mary Glenn-Croft,
Deputy Commissioner for Budget, Finance and Management.

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 agreement is to establish the conditions, terms 
and safeguards under which OPM agrees to the disclosure of civil 
service benefit and payment data to SSA. The old-age, survivors, 
disability insurance (OASDI), supplemental security income (SSI), and 
special veterans' benefits (SVB) programs administered by SSA will use 
the match results under this agreement. The OASDI programs are social 
insurance programs. The SSI program pays benefits to aged, blind and 
disabled recipients with incomes below levels established by law and 
regulations. The SVB program provides special benefits to certain World 
War II veterans. The results of the matching operations are used to 
determine SSI eligibility and to determine beneficiaries whose benefits 
should be reduced due to the Public Disability Benefit offset 
provision, the Windfall Elimination Provision, and the Government 
Pension Offset provision.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    The legal authority for SSA to conduct this matching activity for 
SSI purposes is contained in section 1631(e)(1)(B) and (f) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1383(e)(1)(B) and (f)) and for the SVB 
program as authorized by section 806 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1006). Section 224 of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 424a, 
provides for the reduction of Social Security disability benefits when 
the disabled worker is also entitled to a Public Disability Benefit. 
Sections 215(a)(7) and 215(d)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
415(a)(7) and 415(d)(3)) provide for a modified benefit computation to 
be used for certain beneficiaries who are concurrently entitled to both 
Social Security benefits and a monthly periodic payment based in whole 
or in part on employment not covered by Social Security, including a 
civil service benefit. This modified benefit computation is called the 
Windfall Elimination Provision. Section 202(k)(5)(A) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(k)(5)(A)) requires that SSA reduce the 
Social Security benefits of certain beneficiaries entitled to Social 
Security spouse's benefits who are also entitled to a government 
pension based on their own noncovered earnings. This reduction is 
referred to as Government Pension Offset.

D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Matching 
Program

    Monthly, OPM will provide SSA with an electronic file containing 
civil service benefit and payment data from the annuity and survivor 
master file. The Federal Register designation for the OPM file is OPM/
Central-1 Civil Service Retirement and Insurance Records. Pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 552a(b)(3), OPM has established routine uses to disclose the 
subject information to SSA.
    Each record on the OPM file will be matched for Social Security 
Number (SSN) verification to SSA's Master Files of SSN Holders and SSN 
Applications. The Federal Register designation for the SSA file is 
Master Files of SSN Holders and SSN Applications, SSA/OSR, 60-0058. 
Those records verified will then be matched to SSA's SSI and SVB 
payment information maintained in the SSR and SVB. The Federal Register 
designation for the SSA file is SSR and SVB, SSA/OSR, 60-0103.
    The file will also contain information about each new disability 
annuitant and annuitants whose disability benefits have changed from 
previous reports. The Federal Register designation for the OPM file is 
also OPM/Central-1 Civil Service Retirement and Insurance Records. 
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3), OPM has established routine uses to 
disclose the subject information to SSA.
    Each record on the OPM file will be matched for Social Security 
Number (SSN) verification to SSA's Master Files of SSN Holders and SSN 
Applications. The Federal Register designation for the SSA file is 
Master Files of SSN Holders and SSN Applications, SSA/OSR, 60-0058. 
Those records verified will then be matched to DI records on the MBR to 
identify DI beneficiaries who may be subject to PDB offset. Those 
records verified will also be matched to SSA's MBR for WEP and GPO 
purposes. The Federal Register designation for the SSA file is MBR, 
SSA/OSR, 60-0090.
    This monthly file contains approximately 25,000 records. OPM will 
provide SSA with the entire master annuity file of approximately 2.7 
million records once yearly for the month of the civil service cost-of-
living allowance.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program

    The matching program will become effective no sooner than 40 days 
after notice of the matching program is sent to Congress and the Office 
of Management and Budget, or 30 days after publication of this notice 
in the Federal Register, whichever date 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.

 [FR Doc. E8-4202 Filed 3-4-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P