Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching ProgramsOPM/Social Security Administration

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