June 27, 1997

INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM: R&D-97-043
     
TO:      All Reinsured Companies
         All Risk Management Field Offices
       
FROM:    Tim B. Witt       /S/ TIM B. WITT   06/27/97
         Deputy Administrator
     
SUBJECT: Agent and Loss Adjuster Social Security Numbers
     
The collection, storage, and use of the Social Security Numbers (SSN)
and Employer Identification Numbers (EIN) for crop insurance purposes
are described in the regulation entitled Collection and Storage of
Social Security Account Numbers and Employer Identification Numbers,
7CFR 400, Part 400 Subpart Q.  The regulation has been amended to: 
     
1.  Require agents and loss adjusters to provide SSN's to the Risk
    Management Agency (RMA), and 
     
2.  Impose applicable sanctions if such SSN's are not provided.
     
Note:  Refer to section 405(a), (b), and (c) of the attached regulation.
     
The effective date for this regulation was June 26, 1997.  Following
this date, insurance providers will be required to obtain, store, and
transmit the SSN's of loss adjusters and insurance agents for purposes
of performance evaluation and in determining eligibility for program
participation.  Risk Management Agency's (RMA)  Data Acceptance System
(DAS) already requires the SSN of the agent to be reported with the
acreage record. The requirement to report the SSN of the loss adjuster
has been discussed at previous Data Processing Managers' meetings.  To
provide adequate time for implementation, RMA will require that the SSN
for the loss adjuster be reported to and accepted by DAS in accordance
with Manual 13 for all loss records transmitted after August 11, 1997.
     
Any questions may be directed to Bill Smith (regarding the regulation)
of the Product Development Division at (816) 926-7743 or Seavey Anthony
(regarding data processing) of the Actuarial Division at (816) 926-7910. 
     
Attachment - ATTACHMENT WILL BE MAILED WITH BULLETIN R&D-97-043