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

RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD

Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988; Notice of

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 under 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, P.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; and a third

notice was published at 59 FR 64441 (12-14-94) covering the third

cycle. New agreements are being negotiated for continuing the matching

program beyond the third 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 for 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. The 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. Sec. 231b(a), 45 U.S.C. Sec. 231c(a) and 45

U.S.C. Sec. 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. Sec. 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. Sec. 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. Sec. (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. Sec. 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 in May 1997 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 the Office of Management

and Budget and the designated committees of both houses of Congress.

Dated: May 1, 1997.

By Authority of the Board.

Beatrice Ezerski,

Secretary to the Board.

[FR Doc. 97-12068 Filed 5-8-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7905-01-M