Feds Cross-Check Wages to Nix Retiree Benefit Windfalls
Published Date: 8/19/2026
Notice
Summary
In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-108, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is providing notice of the re- establishment of a matching program between OPM and the Social Security Administration (SSA) under Computer Matching Agreement (CMA) No. 1045. The purpose of the matching program is to enable SSA to disclose wage and self-employment income information to OPM for use in determining continued eligibility for certain retirement and survivor benefits subject to statutory earnings limitations.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
OPM–SSA Wage Data Match Re‑Established
OPM and the Social Security Administration are re-establishing a computer matching program (CMA No. 1045) that begins on October 20, 2026 and runs for 18 months. OPM will receive SSA wage and self-employment income data to compare against OPM retirement records to determine continued eligibility for disability retirees under age 60, disabled adult-child survivors, certain FERS annuity supplement recipients, and certain CSRS discontinued service annuitants; Federal law limits how much those people may earn while keeping these benefits and OPM has authority to terminate benefits under those laws.
Personal and Earnings Data Shared Between Agencies
OPM will send SSA identifying information (full name, Social Security number, date of birth, and tax year(s)) and SSA will disclose wage and self-employment information including employer identification numbers, employer addresses, W-2 wage amounts, self-employment earnings amounts, annual wage totals, earnings report type, and a death indicator; SSA will also provide reasons for any no-match (for example, SSN not on file or name mismatch).
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-16687, Differential Pay for Prescribed Wildland Fire Activities
Starting September 14, 2026, federal employees who work on planned wildland fires will get a 25% pay boost for their risky fireline duties. This new rule affects General Schedule and Federal Wage System workers who help control these fires, making their tough jobs a bit more rewarding. It’s a win for firefighters who keep our forests safe with planned burns!
2026-15650, Suitability Action Appeals
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing final regulations to revise how an applicant, appointee, or employee may appeal a suitability action taken under 5 CFR part 731. OPM will replace the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) as the adjudicative agency for such appeals. The change will streamline suitability action appeals procedures, thereby improving the efficiency, rigor, and timeliness by which OPM and agencies resolve challenges to suitability actions and ensure the integrity and efficiency of the service.
2026-15666, Reduction in Force Appeals
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing final regulations to revise how an employee may appeal a furlough of more than 30 days, separation, or demotion by a reduction-in-force (RIF) action. OPM will replace the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) as the adjudicative agency for such appeals. The rule establishes a uniform, record-based OPM appeal process; clarifies the appellant's burden; requires production of the complete agency record; preserves collateral statutory remedies; and applies prospectively to improve timeliness, consistency, and cost-effectiveness while maintaining administrative review.
2026-15654, Streamlining Probationary and Trial Period Appeals
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a final rule to change the circumstances and procedures for adjudicating appeals from employees terminated during their probationary and trial periods and supervisors and managers who fail to complete their probationary periods. Executive order, "Strengthening Probationary Periods in the Federal Service," rendered the prior procedures for appealing such actions to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) inoperative. This final rule establishes a new, limited appeals process adjudicated by OPM. The final rule also makes conforming amendments.
2026-15665, Reduction in Force
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is revising its reduction in force (RIF) regulations to make the RIF regulations more streamlined, efficient, and merit-based by prioritizing performance over tenure and length of service when determining which employees will be retained in a RIF and by modifying the types of employees who are excluded from RIF competition. OPM is also revising its regulations regarding the reemployment priority list (RPL), career transition assistance program (CTAP), the interagency career transition assistance program (ICTAP), and transfers of function.
2026-15597, FLSA Claims and Compliance
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing this direct final rule to update the provisions concerning Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) claims submissions to OPM.