[Federal Register: July 14, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 134)]
[Notices]
[Page 40747-40748]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14jy05-88]
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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