[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 205 (Thursday, October 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55284-55285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-28066]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD
Proposed Collection; Comment Request
SUMMARY: 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
Self-Employment and Substantial Service Questionnaire; OMB 3220-0138
Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) provides for payment
of annuities to qualified employees and their spouses. In order to
receive an age and service annuity, Section 2(e)(3) states that an
applicant must stop all railroad work and give up any rights to return
to such work. A disability applicant must give up all railroad work,
but does not have to relinquish rights to return to railroad work until
he or she attains age 65, or, if earlier, a spouse annuity or
supplemental annuity becomes payable. Under the 1988 amendments to the
RRA, an applicant is no longer required to stop work for a ``Last Pre-
Retirement Nonrailroad Employer'' (LPE). LPE is the last person,
company or institution with whom an employee or spouse applicant's last
railroad employment and before their annuity beginning date. However,
section 2(f)(6) of the RRA requires that a portion of the employee's
Tier II benefit and supplemental annuity be deducted for earnings from
a ``LPE'' employer.
The RRB utilizes Form AA-4, Self-Employment and Substantial Service
Questionnaire to obtain information needed to determine if the
applicant's work is LPE, railroad service or self-employment. If the
work is self-employment, the questionnaire
[[Page 55285]]
identifies any months in which the applicant did not perform
substantial service. One response is requested of each respondent.
Completion is voluntary. However, failure to complete the forms could
result in the nonpayment of benefits.
The RRB proposes to revise Form AA-4 to add language required by
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Minor nonburden impacting changes
are also proposed. The completion time for the AA-4 is estimated at
between 40 and 70 minutes. The RRB estimates that approximately 1,500
AA-4's are completed annually.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: To request more information or to
obtain a copy of the information collection justification, forms, and/
or supporting material, please call the RRB Clearance Officer at (312)
751-3363. Comments regarding the information collection should be
addressed to Ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North
Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092. Written comments should be
received within 60 days of this notice.
Chuck Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-28066 Filed 10-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-M
