§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 Social Security can help repay certain overpaid federal disability annuities. Under that system, OPM tells Social Security when someone is awarded a monthly disability annuity under subchapter V of chapter 84 of title 5 and confirms the person signed a written authorization. If Social Security finds the same person is owed past‑due disability benefits under section 423, Social Security tells OPM. OPM then has 30 days to give Social Security the total amount of any annuity overpayments and any other needed information. If OPM meets the deadline, Social Security may hold back the person’s past‑due section 423 benefits and send that money to OPM to cover the overpayment, and OPM must credit what it gets toward the person’s annuity debt. Withholding can happen only after any other required reductions under this chapter (including sections 406(a)(4), 424a, and 1320a–6(a)). Social Security cannot withhold if OPM misses the 30‑day deadline, and payment of past‑due benefits is delayed until that 30‑day period ends. Any dispute about withholding is reviewed only by the Director under section 8461 of title 5. “Disability annuity overpayment” means the reduction under 5 U.S.C. 8452(a)(2) when a person had both the annuity and a section 423 benefit. The written authorization lets Social Security withhold past‑due benefits to repay OPM. OPM must pay SSA each quarter for the estimated cost of running this process.