[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 145 (Tuesday, July 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 40563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19827]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Privacy Act of 1974, As Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)--SSA Match Number 1007)

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice of Computer Matching Program.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, this 
notice announces a computer matching program that SSA plans to conduct 
with RRB.

DATES: SSA will file a report of the subject matching program with the 
Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on 
Government Reform and Oversight of the House of Representatives and the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB). The matching program will be effective as indicated 
below.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may comment on this notice by either 
telefax to (410) 966-5138, or writing to the Associate Commissioner for 
the Office of Program Support, 4400 West High Rise Building, 6401 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235. All comments received will be 
available for public inspection at this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Associate Commissioner for the 
Office of Program Support as shown above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. General

    The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 
100-503), amended the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) by establishing 
conditions under which computer matching involving the Federal 
government could be performed and adding certain protections for 
individuals applying for and receiving Federal benefits. Section 7201 
of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-508), 
further amended the Privacy Act regarding protections for such 
individuals. The Privacy Act, as amended, regulates the use of computer 
matching by Federal agencies when records in a system of records are 
matched with other Federal, State, or local government records. Among 
other things, it requires Federal agencies involved in computer 
matching programs to:
    (1) Negotiate written agreements with the other agency or agencies 
participating in the matching programs;
    (2) Obtain Data Integrity Board approval of the match agreements;
    (3) Furnish detailed reports about matching programs to Congress 
and OMB;
    (4) Notify applicants and beneficiaries that their records are 
subject to matching; and
    (5) Verify match findings before reducing, suspending, terminating, 
or denying an individual's benefits or payments.

B. SSA Computer Matches Subject to the Privacy Act

    We have taken action to ensure that all of SSA's computer matching 
programs comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act, as amended.

    Dated: July 15, 1997.
John J. Callahan,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security.

Notice of Computer Matching Program, Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) 
With Social Security Administration (SSA)

A. Participating Agencies

    SSA and RRB.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    To identify social security beneficiaries and applicants who have 
railroad earnings which must be considered wages under the Social 
Security Act for purposes of determining individual entitlement and 
monthly benefit amounts for Social Security Retirement, Survivors and 
Disability Insurance under title II of the Social Security Act. 
Earnings considered compensation under the Railroad Retirement Act 
instead must be considered wages under the Social Security Act. This 
situation applies if the numberholder has less than 10 years of 
railroad service or has 10 or more years of service but does not have a 
current connection with the railroad industry at the time of his or her 
death.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    Sections 202, 205(o) and 215(f) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 402, 405(o) and 415(f)) and section 18 of the Railroad 
Retirement Act (45 U.S.C. 231(q)(2)).

D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Match

    The RRB will provide SSA with an electronic data file containing 
earnings information from RRB's Service and Compensation Record (SCORE) 
file. The complete name of the SCORE file is RRB-5 Master File of 
Railroad Employees' Creditable Compensation--RRB. SSA will then match 
the RRB data with records maintained on social security beneficiaries 
and applicants in its Master Beneficiary Record (MBR), SSA/OSR, 09-60-
0090 and Master Earnings File (MEF), SSA/OSR, 09-60-0059.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Match

    The matching program shall become effective no sooner than 40 days 
after notice of the matching program is sent to Congress and the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB), or 30 days after publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register, whichever date is later. The matching 
program will continue for 18 months from the effective date and may be 
extended for an additional 12 months thereafter, if certain conditions 
are met.

[FR Doc. 97-19827 Filed 7-28-97; 8:45 am]
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