2010-3705. Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will be sending an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to request a revision to the following collection of information: 3220-0042, Application for Spouse Annuity Under the Railroad Retirement Act, consisting of RRB Form(s) AA-3, Application for Spouse/Divorced Spouse Annuity and AA-3cert, Application Summary and Certification. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and approval by OIRA ensures that we impose appropriate paperwork burdens.

The RRB invites comments on the proposed collection of information to determine (1) the practical utility of the collection; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden of the collection; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information that is the subject of collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of collections on respondents, including the including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments to RRB or OIRA must contain the OMB control number of the ICR. For proper consideration of your comments, it is best if RRB and OIRA receive them within 30 days of publication date.

Application for Spouse Annuity Under the Railroad Retirement Act; OMB 3220-0042

Section 2(c) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), provides for the payment of annuities to spouses of railroad retirement annuitants who meet the requirements under the RRA. The age requirements for a spouse annuity depend on the employee's age and date of retirement and the employee's years of railroad service. The requirements relating to the annuities are prescribed in 20 CFR 216, 218, 219, 232, 234, and 295.

The RRB currently uses the electronic AA-3cert, Application Summary and Certification process and manual Form AA-3, Application for Spouse/Divorced Spouse Annuity, to obtain the information needed to determine an applicant's entitlement to an annuity and the amount of the annuity.

The AA-3cert process obtains information from an applicant by means of an interview with an RRB field-office representative. During the interview, the field-office representative enters the information obtained into an on-line information system. Upon completion of the interview, the applicant receives Form AA-3cert, Application Summary and Certification, which summarizes the information that was provided by/or verified by the applicant, for review and signature. The RRB also uses manual Form AA-3 in instances where the RRB representative is unable to contact the applicant in person or by telephone i.e., the applicant lives in another country. Completion of Forms AA-3 and AA-3cert is required to obtain a benefit. One response is requested of each respondent.

Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the initial 60-day notice (74FR 65551 on December 10, 2009) required by 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

Title: Application for Spouse Annuity Under the Railroad Retirement Act.

OMB Control Number 3220-0042.

Form(s) submitted: AA-3, Application for Spouse/Divorced Spouse Annuity, AA-3cert, Application Summary and Certification.

Type of request: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Affected public: Individuals or households.

Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits.

Abstract: The Railroad Retirement Act provides for the payment of annuities to spouses of railroad retirement annuitants who meet the requirements under the Act. The application obtains information supporting the claim for benefits based on being a spouse of an annuitant. The information is used for determining entitlement to and amount of the annuity applied for.

Changes Proposed: The RRB proposes minor non-burden impacting, editorial changes to Form AA-3cert and Form AA-3.

The burden estimate for this ICR is proposed as follows:

Estimated annual number of respondents: 11,050.

Total annual responses: 11,050.

Total annual reporting hours: 5,642.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Copies of the form and supporting documents can be obtained from Charles Mierzwa, the agency clearance officer at (312-751-3363) or [e-mail].

Comments: Comments regarding the information collection should be addressed to Patricia Henaghan, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092 or [e-mail] and to the OMB Desk Officer for the RRB, at the Office of Management and Budget, Room 10230, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.

Charles Mierzwa,

RRB Clearance Officer.