§1320a–6a Interagency coordination to improve program administration

Summary

The Social Security Commissioner and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management must set up a system to share information so past-due Social Security disability payments can be used to repay any extra disability annuity money paid by OPM. OPM must tell Social Security when someone starts getting a monthly disability annuity and confirm the person gave written permission. If Social Security finds the same person is owed past-due disability benefits, it tells OPM. Then OPM has 30 days to give Social Security the total amount of any annuity overpayments and other needed facts. If OPM meets the 30-day deadline, Social Security may hold back the past-due payment and send that money to OPM to cover the overpayment. Social Security must apply any payment it receives to reduce the person’s annuity overpayment. Social Security can only withhold money after other required reductions, and it cannot withhold if OPM misses the 30-day deadline. Any dispute about withholding is handled through OPM’s review process. OPM must also pay Social Security each calendar quarter for the estimated cost of running this process. Definitions: disability annuity overpayment — the extra amount OPM deducted from an annuity because the person was also entitled to Social Security for the same month. authorization — the person’s written permission allowing Social Security to withhold past-due benefits and send them to OPM.