[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 171 (Friday, September 3, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54213-54214]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-22000]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No. SSA 2010-0016]
Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)--Match Numbers 1005, 1019, 1020,
and 1021
AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).
ACTION: Notice of a renewal of an existing computer matching program
that is scheduled to expire on October 6, 2010.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as
amended, this notice announces a renewal of an existing computer
matching program that we are currently conducting with OPM.
DATES: We 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
[[Page 54214]]
(OMB). The matching program will be effective as indicated below.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties may comment on this notice by either
telefaxing to (410) 966-0869 or writing to the Executive Director,
Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel, 617
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 Executive Director, Office of
Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel as shown above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. General
The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Public
Law (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 persons 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 persons.
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 a person's benefits or payments.
B. SSA Computer Matches Subject to the Privacy Act
We have taken action to ensure that all of our computer matching
programs comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act, as amended.
Jonathan R. Cantor,
Chair, Executive Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of
the General Counsel.
Notice of Computer Matching Program, 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 set forth the
conditions, terms, and safeguards under which OPM will disclose civil
service benefit and payment data to us. We are legally required to
offset specific benefits by a percentage of civil service benefits
received (Spousal and Survivors benefits, Supplemental Security Income
(SSI) benefits, and Disability Insurance Benefits are offset by a
percentage of the recipient's own Federal government pension benefits).
The Old-Age, Survivors, Disability Insurance (OASDI), SSI, and Special
Veterans' Benefits (SVB) programs administered by us will use the match
results under this agreement to meet its civil service benefit offset
obligations. 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.
Specific information regarding the matching programs to be conducted
because of the disclosure is provided in the appendices.
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 (Act) (42 U.S.C. 1383(e)(1)(B) and (f)) and for the
SVB purposes is contained in section 806 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1006).
Section 224 of the 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 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 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.
Section 1631(f) of the Act requires Federal agencies to furnish SSA
with information necessary to verify eligibility, and section 224(h)(1)
of the Act requires any Federal agency to provide SSA with information
in its possession that SSA may require for the purposes of making a
timely determination of the amount of reduction under section 224 of
the Act.
D. Categories of Records and Persons Covered by the Matching Program
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 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.
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 OMB, 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. 2010-22000 Filed 9-2-10; 8:45 am]
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