Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988; RRB Records Used in Computer Matching

RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD

Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988; RRB Records

Used in Computer Matching

AGENCY: Railroad Retirement Board (RRB).

ACTION: Notice of Records Used in Computer Matching Programs.

Notification to individuals who are beneficiaries used the Railroad

Retirement Act.

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SUMMARY: As required by the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection

Act of 1988, RRB is issuing public notice of its use and intent to use,

in ongoing computer matching programs, information obtained from the

Social Security Administration (SSA) of the amount of wages reported to

SSA and the amount of benefits paid by that agency.

The purpose of this notice is to advise individuals applying for or

receiving benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act of the use made by

RRB of this information obtained from SSA by means of a computer match.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may comment on this publication by

writing to Ms. Beatrice Ezerski, Secretary to the Board, Railroad

Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. LeRoy Blommaert, Privacy Act

Officer, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago,

Illinois 60611-2092, telephone number (312) 751-4548.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection

Act of 1988, Pub. L. 100-503, requires a Federal agency participating

in a computer matching program to publish a notice regarding the

establishment of a matching program. The required notice was first

published at 54 FR 26282 (June 22, 1989). A second notice was published

at 57 FR 23115 (June 1, 1992) covering the second cycle. New agreements

are being negotiated for continuing the matching program beyond the

second cycle's initial 18-month and additional 12-month periods; hence,

the need for a new notice.

Name of Participating Agencies

Social Security Administration and Railroad Retirement Board.

Purpose of the Match

The RRB will, on a daily basis, obtain from SSA a record of the

wages reported to SSA from persons who have applied for benefits under

the Railroad Retirement Act and a record of the amount of benefits paid

by that agency to persons who are receiving or have applied for

benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act. That wage information is

needed to compute the amount of the tier I annuity component provided

by sections 3(a), 4(a) and 4(f) of the Railroad Retirement Act (45

U.S.C. 231b(a), 45 U.S.C. 231c(a) and 45 U.S.C. 231c(f). This

information is available from no other source.

In addition, the RRB will receive from SSA the amount of certain

social security benefits which the RRB pays on behalf of SSA. Section

7(b)(2) of the Railroad Retirement Act (45 U.S.C. 231f(b)(2)) provides

that the RRB shall make the payment of certain social security

benefits. The RRB also requires this information in order to adjust the

amount of any annuity due to the receipt of a social security benefit.

Section 10(a) of the Railroad Retirement Act (45 U.S.C. 231i(a))

permits the RRB to recover any overpayment from the accrual of social

security benefits. This information is not available from any other

source.

Finally, the RRB will receive from SSA once a year a copy of SSA's

Master Benefit Record for earmarked RRB annuitants. Section 7(b)(7)) of

the Railroad Retirement Act (45 U.S.C. (b)(7) requires that SSA provide

the requested information. The RRB needs this information to make the

necessary cost-of-living computation quickly and accurately for those

RRB annuitants who are also SSA beneficiaries.

Authority for Conducting the Match

Section 7(b)(7) of the Railroad Retirement Act (45 U.S.C.

231f(h)(7)) provides that the Social Security Administration shall

supply information necessary to administer the Railroad Retirement Act.

Categories of Records and Individuals Covered

All applicants for benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act and

current beneficiaries will have a record of their wages and the amount

of their social security benefits requested from the Social Security

Administration.

Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program

It is estimated that these matches will commence on January 22,

1995, and will run for the full 18 months of the agreement.

The notice we are giving here is in addition to any individual

notice.

A copy of this notice will be furnished to both Houses of Congress

and the Office of Management and Budget.

Dated: December 7, 1994.

By authority of the Board.

Beatrice Ezerski,

Secretary to the Board.

[FR Doc. 94-30617 Filed 12-13-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7905-01-M