Effective Dates: 09/24/2025 - Present Previous | Next

TN 139 (09-25)

RS 00605.374 OPM and SSA Computer Match Alerts

Note: 

Due to the implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA) of 2023, which eliminated the reduction of Social Security benefits under WEP as of January 2024, effective September 14, 2025, OPM no longer provides SSA with federal civil service payment data for use in applying WEP. For more information on WEP, see RS 00605.360.

A. Background

The Social Security Administration (SSA) receives federal civil service pension payment data from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) based on a person's Federal Government employment through a computer matching agreement.

The first OPM match for Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) purposes included all pension entitlements beginning with January 1986.

Each month OPM provides SSA with payment information for civil service annuitants.

B. OPM alerts

1. Initial claims

Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) federal pension data displays on the Civil Service Data (DCSD) screen in the Modernized Claims System (MCS) Earnings Computation (EC) screens when a claimant files an application for retirement or disability benefits.

This information is sufficient for proof of the pension.

For additional information about proof of a federal pension, see RS 00605.366D.

2. Post entitlement

Each month SSA matches OPM data against the Master Beneficiary Record (MBR) for current beneficiaries. If the Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) Primary Insurance Amount Factor Code (PIFC) of "5" or "V" (WEP PIA) is not present on the MBR and WEP could apply based on the beneficiary date of birth and date of entitlement, an alert generates to the Program Service Center (PSC).

PSC actions:

  • •

    Review the alert. To interpret alert data, see glossary of acronyms at RS 00601.002.

  • •

    Send the required advance notice before you take action based on information produced by a computer match, see NL 00703.150.

  • •

    Obtain Form SSA-150 (Modified Benefit Formula Questionnaire).

  • •

    Develop pension following instructions in RS 00605.366B.

  • •

    If an exemption or a PIA recomputation applies, document and process in the Change in PIA (CIP) web-based application, see MS INTRANETCIP 001.001.

NOTE: OPM formerly used an indicator to show whether the date of entitlement (DOE) was accurate. That code is no longer used. Develop all dates of entitlement if the beneficiary disagrees with DOE on record.

C. References

  • •

    GN 04030.100 Reopening When Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) is Involved

  • •

    RS 00605.362 Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) Exceptions

  • •

    RS 00605.366 Pension Development

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0300605374
RS 00605.374 - OPM and SSA Computer Match Alerts - 09/24/2025
Batch run: 09/24/2025
Rev:09/24/2025