96-17249. Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching ProgramsOPM/Social Security Administration  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 131 (Monday, July 8, 1996)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 35818-35819]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-17249]
    
    
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    OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
    
    Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Programs--OPM/Social 
    Security Administration
    
    AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.
    
    ACTION: Publication of notice of computer matching to comply with Pub. 
    L. 100-503, the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection 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 and 
    publication requirements of Pub. L. 100-503. The purpose of the 
    computer match is for OPM to verify earnings information provided 
    directly by civil service annuitants based on tax return information 
    disclosed by SSA to OPM.
    
    DATES: The matching program will begin in May 1996, or 40 days after 
    agreements by the parties participating in the match have been 
    submitted to Congress and the Office of Management and Budget, or 30 
    days after notice of the match is published in the Federal Register, 
    whichever is later. The data exchange will begin at a date mutually 
    agreeable between OPM and SSA, unless comments are received which will 
    result in a contrary determination. Subsequent matches will take place 
    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 comment to Kathleen M. McGettigan, Assistant Director 
    for Financial Control and Management, 1900 E Street, NW., Room 4312, 
    Washington, DC 20415.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Marc Flaster, (202) 606-2115.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OPM and SSA intend to conduct a computer 
    matching program, as described below. The purposes of this agreement is 
    to establish the conditions under which SSA agrees to the disclosure of 
    tax return information to OPM. The SSA records will be used in a 
    matching program with OPM's records on disability retirees and retirees 
    under the Federal Employees Retirement System who receive annuity 
    supplements. These annuitants have limitations on their earnings which 
    they may not exceed if they are to retain their annuity benefits. OPM 
    will use the SSA data to verify the earnings information provided 
    directly to OPM by the annuitants.
    
    Office of Personnel Management.
    James B. King,
    Director.
    
    Report of Computer Matching Program Between the Office of Personnel 
    Management and the Social Security Administration
    
    A. Participating Agencies
    
        OPM and SSA.
    
    B. Purpose of the Matching Program
    
        Chapters 83 and 84 of title 5, United States Code (U.S.C.) require 
    OPM to verify earnings data supplied by civil service annuitants. 
    Section 6103(1)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code requires SSA to 
    disclose tax return information to OPM to administer programs under 
    chapters 83 and 84 of title 5, United States Code. The purpose of the 
    computer match is for OPM to verify earnings information provided 
    directly by civil service annuitants based on tax return information 
    disclosed by SSA to OPM.
    
    C. Authority for Conducting the Match Program
    
        Pub. L. 97-253, Chapter 83 and 84, title 5, United States Code and 
    26 U.S.C. 6103(1)(11).
    
    [[Page 35819]]
    
    D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Match
    
        The SSA records involved in the match are earnings, self-employment 
    and other data which constitute tax return information pursuant to 26 
    U.S.C. 6103. The Earnings Recording and Self-Employment Income System 
    (last published in the FR at 59 FR 62407, December 5, 1994) maintains 
    records of individuals' wages or self-employment income from employment 
    under Social Security. The OPM records consists of annuity data from 
    its system of records entitled OPM/Central-1--Civil Service Retirement 
    and Insurance Records (last published in the FR at 60 FR 63075, 
    December 8, 1995).
    
    E. Inclusive Date of the Matching Program
    
        This computer matching program is subject to review by the Office 
    of Management and Budget and the Congress. If no objections are raised 
    by either, and the mandatory 30-day public notice period for comment 
    has expired for this Federal Register notice with no significant 
    adverse public comments in receipt resulting in a contrary 
    determination, then this computer matching program becomes effective on 
    the date specified above. By agreement between OPM and SSA, the 
    matching program will be in effect and continue for 18 months with an 
    option to renew for 12 additional moths under the terms set forth in 5 
    U.S.C. 552a(o)(2)(D).
    
    [FR Doc. 96-17249 Filed 7-5-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6325-01-M