[Federal Register: June 1, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 104)]
[Notices]
[Page 31547-31548]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01jn05-150]
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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 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.
DATES: The matching program will begin 40 days after the Federal
Register notice has been published and the letters to Congress and OMB
have been issued. 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 April 2005, unless comments on the match are
received that result in cancellation of the program. Subsequent matches
will take place semi-annually on a recurring 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 4316, 1900 E Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20415.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Sparrow, (202) 606-1803.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OPM and SSA intend to conduct a computer
matching program. The purpose of this agreement is to establish the
conditions
[[Page 31548]]
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. The responsible component for OPM is the
Center for Retirement and Insurance Services. 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.
Dan G. Blair,
Acting Director.
Report of Computer Matching Program Between the Office of Personnel
Management and Social Security Administration
A. Participating Agencies
OPM and SSA.
B. Purpose of the Matching Program
This computer matching agreement sets forth the responsibilities of
the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Office of Personnel
Management (OPM) with respect to information disclosed pursuant to this
agreement and is executed under the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a,
as amended, and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder.
C. Description of the Match and Records
SSA will disclose data from its MBR file (60-0090, Master
Beneficiary Record, SSA/OEEAS) and MEF file (60-0059, Earning Recording
and Self-Employment Income System, SSA/OEEAS), and manually extracted
military wage information from SSA's ``1086'' microfilm file when
required. OPM will provide SSA with a electronic finder file from the
OPM System of Records published as OPM/Central-1 (Civil Service and
Insurance Records), on October 8, 1999 (64 FR 54930), as amended on May
3, 2000 (65 FR 2575). The systems of records involved have routine uses
permitting the disclosures needed to conduct this match.
D. 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. SSA and OPM will protect Federal Tax
information in the same manner which IRS systems of records are
protected under the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, and in accordance
with Internal Revenue Manual 1.16.8, Physical Security Standards
Handbook. Either OPM or SSA may make onsite inspection or make other
provisions to ensure that adequate safeguards are being maintained by
the other agency.
E. Disposal of Records
Records causing closeout or suspend actions would also be annotated
and returned to OPM for recordkeeping 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. 05-10826 Filed 5-31-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-38-P