Computing Benefit Amounts, Disposing of Underpayments, Resolving Overpayments, and Payment Restriction

We are revising our rules on computation of benefits to define the term ``first becomes eligible'' as it relates to a pension based on noncovered employment. We are also revising the computation rules to provide that we will consider all government service used by a pension- paying agency when we determine whether an individual first became eligible before 1986 for a pension based on noncovered employment. Further, we are also revising our rule on determining fault regarding overpayments to state that benefit deductions because of net earnings from self-employment are not applicable after an individual attains age 70. Additionally, we are revising our rules on underpayments to clarify a misleading cross-reference. Finally, we are updating the list of countries to which benefit payments are withheld because of Treasury Department restrictions.