SSA and OPM Swap Data for Medicare Extra Help Checks
Published Date: 8/7/2026
Notice
Summary
In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new matching program with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Under this matching program, OPM will provide SSA with civil service benefit and payment data. This disclosure will provide SSA with information necessary to verify an individual's self-certification of eligibility for the Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs program (Extra Help). It will also enable SSA to identify individuals who may qualify for Extra Help as part of the agency's Medicare outreach efforts.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
OPM will share annuitant personal data with SSA
OPM will provide SSA electronic files containing civil service annuitant information, including name, date of birth, Social Security number, civil service claim number, and amount of current gross civil service benefits. The OPM file will include approximately 125,000 updated annuitant payment records and SSA will compare them to its Medicare Database of about 111 million records.
OPM data used to verify Extra Help
If you apply or self-certify for Extra Help (the low-income subsidy for Medicare Part D), SSA will use civil service benefit and payment data from OPM to verify your eligibility. This matching program starts on September 16, 2026 and runs for 18 months; OPM will provide records including name, date of birth, Social Security number, civil service claim number, and amount of current gross civil service benefits.
SSA will identify potential Extra Help recipients
SSA will use OPM civil service payment data to identify individuals who may qualify for Extra Help as part of its Medicare outreach efforts. The program is effective September 16, 2026 for 18 months and will match OPM files (about 125,000 updated annuitant records) against SSA's Medicare Database (about 111 million records).
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