Railroad Retirement Board October 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Document Number: 2011-27488
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-10-25
Agency: Railroad Retirement Board, Agencies and Commissions
Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Document Number: 2011-27120
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-10-20
Agency: Railroad Retirement Board, Agencies and Commissions
In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which provides opportunity for public comment on new or revised data collections, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will publish periodic summaries of proposed data collections. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information has practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the RRB's estimate of the burden of the collection of the information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden related to the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 1. Title and purpose of information collection: Evidence for Application of Overall Minimum: OMB 3220-0083. Under Section 3(f)(3) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), the total monthly benefits payable to a railroad employee and his/her family are guaranteed to be no less than the amount which would be payable if the employee's railroad service had been covered by the Social Security Act. This is referred to as the Social Security Overall Minimum Guarantee, which is prescribed in 20 CFR part 229. To administer this provision, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) requires information about a retired employee's spouse and child(ren) who would not be eligible for benefits under the RRA but would be eligible for benefits under the Social Security Act if the employee's railroad service had been covered by that Act. The RRB obtains the required information by the use of Forms G-319, Statement Regarding Family and Earnings for Special Guaranty Computation, and G-320, Student Questionnaire for Special Guaranty Computation. One response is required of each respondent. Completion is required to obtain or retain benefits. The RRB proposes no changes to Form G-319 or Form G-320.
Sunshine Act; Notice of Public Meeting
Document Number: 2011-26868
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-10-17
Agency: Railroad Retirement Board, Agencies and Commissions
Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Document Number: 2011-26542
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-10-14
Agency: Railroad Retirement Board, Agencies and Commissions
In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which provides opportunity for public comment on new or revised data collections, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will publish periodic summaries of proposed data collections. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information has practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the RRB's estimate of the burden of the collection of the information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden related to the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 1. Title and purpose of information collection: Appeal Under the Railroad Retirement and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act; OMB 3220- 0007. Under Section 7(b)(3) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), and Section 5(c) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) any person aggrieved by a decision on his or her application for an annuity or benefit under that Act has the right to appeal to the RRB. This right is prescribed in 20 CFR part 260 and 20 CFR part 320. The notification letter, which is sent at the time of the original action on the application, informs the applicant of such right. When an applicant protests a decision, the concerned RRB office reviews the entire file and any additional evidence submitted and sends the applicant a letter explaining the basis of the determination. The applicant is then notified that if he or she wishes to protest further, they can appeal to the RRB's Bureau of Hearings and Appeals. The appeal process is prescribed in 20 CFR 260.5 and 260.9 and 20 CFR 320.12 and 320.38. The form prescribed by the RRB for filing an appeal under the RRA or RUIA is Form HA-1, Appeal Under the Railroad Retirement Act or Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act. The form asks the applicant to explain the basis for their request for an appeal and, if necessary, to describe any additional evidence they wish to submit in support of the appeal. Completion is voluntary, however, if the information is not provided the RRB cannot process the appeal. The RRB proposes minor editorial and cosmetic changes to Form HA-1.
Sunshine Act Meeting; Notice of Cancellation of Public Meeting
Document Number: 2011-25979
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-10-06
Agency: Railroad Retirement Board, Agencies and Commissions
Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Document Number: 2011-25777
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-10-06
Agency: Railroad Retirement Board, Agencies and Commissions
In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506 (c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which provides opportunity for public comment on new or revised data collections, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will publish periodic summaries of proposed data collections. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information has practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the RRB's estimate of the burden of the collection of the information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden related to the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Title and purpose of information collection: Employee's Certification; OMB 3220-0140 Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), provides for the payment of an annuity to the spouse or divorced spouse of a retired railroad employee. For the spouse or divorced spouse to qualify for an annuity, the RRB must determine if any of the employee's current marriage to the applicant is valid. The requirements for obtaining documentary evidence to determine valid marital relationships are prescribed in 20 CFR 219.30 through 219.35. Section 2(e) of the RRA requires that an employee must relinquish all rights to any railroad employer service before a spouse annuity can be paid. The RRB uses Form G-346 to obtain the information needed to determine whether the employee's current marriage is valid. Form G-346 is completed by the retired employee who is the husband or wife of the applicant for a spouse annuity. Completion is required to obtain a benefit. One response is requested of each respondent. The RRB proposes no changes to Form G-346. The RRB estimates that 4,830 G-346's will be completed annually at an estimated completion time of five minutes per response. Total respondent burden is estimated at 403 hours. In accordance with amended regulation 20 CFR 217.17, the RRB proposes the implementation of Form G-346sum. Proposed Form G-346sum, which will mirror the information collected on Form G-346, will be used when an employee, after being interviewed by an RRB field office staff member ``signs'' the form using an alternative signature method known as ``attestation''. Attestation refers to the action taken by the RRB field office employee to confirm and annotate the RRB's records of the applicant's affirmation under penalty of perjury that the information provided is correct and the applicant's agreement to sign the form by proxy. The RRB estimates that 2,070 G-346sum's will be completed annually at an estimated completion time of five minutes per response. Total respondent burden is estimated at 172 hours. Additional Information or Comments: To request more information or to obtain a copy of the information collection justification, forms, and/or supporting material, contact Charles Mierzwa, the RRB Clearance Officer, at (312) 751-3363 or Charles.Mierzwa@RRB.GOV. Comments regarding the information collection should be addressed to Patricia Henaghan, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092 or e-mailed to Patricia.Henaghan@RRB.GOV. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.
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