output date field from a flat file into a variable

Hi
 
I am looking to do date comparison in CL program.
 
    I get the date from a flat file with the below SQL
SELECT                             
      substr(admadmrec, 9,8)     
from admfile            
 
the value is in format yyyymmdd.
 
 How do you  output this date into a variable (&VAR) to compare with another variable(&DATE) that picks APPLICATION DATE in the same format 20130608(yyyymmdd).
 
 
Below is the structure of my CL 
PGM
DCL &VAR
DCL &DATE
 
-----
-----
 
 
IF &VAR = &DATE
DO --------
IF &VAR < &DATE
DO ---------
IF &VAR > &DATE
DO --------
 
ENDPGM
 
Thanks!