03-18331. Proposed Submission of Information Collection for OMB Review; Comment Request; Locating and Paying Participants

AGENCY:

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

ACTION:

Notice of intention to request extension of OMB approval.

SUMMARY:

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”) intends to request that the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) extend its approval (with modifications) of a collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The purpose of the information collection is to enable the PBGC to pay benefits to participants and beneficiaries in plans covered by the PBGC insurance program. The PBGC intends to create an electronic facility, My Pension Benefit Account (“My PBA”), on its Web site at www.pbgc.gov,, through which plan participants will be able to conduct electronic transactions with the PBGC. This notice informs the public of the PBGC's intent and solicits public comment on the collection of information.

DATES:

Comments should be submitted by September 16, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be mailed to the Office of the General Counsel, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005-4026, or delivered to Suite 340 at that address during normal business hours. Comments also may be submitted electronically through the PBGC's Web site at www.pbgc.gov/​paperwork,, or by fax to 202-326-4112. The PBGC will make all comments available on its Web site at www.pbgc.gov.

Copies of the collection of information may be obtained without charge by writing to the PBGC's Communications and Public Affairs Department at Suite 240 at the above address or by visiting that office or calling 202-326-4040 during normal business hours. (TTY and TDD users may call the Federal relay service toll-free at 1-800-877-8339 and ask to be connected to 202-326-4040.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Catherine B. Klion, Attorney, Office of the General Counsel, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005-4026, 202-326-4024. (TTY/TDD users may call the Federal relay service toll-free at 1-800-877-8339 and ask to be connected to 202-326-4024.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The PBGC intends to request that OMB extend its approval (with modifications) of a collection of information needed to pay participants and beneficiaries who may be entitled to pension benefits under a defined benefit plan that has terminated. The collection consists of information participants and beneficiaries are asked to provide in connection with an application for benefits. In addition, in some instances, as part of a search for participants and beneficiaries who may be entitled to benefits, the PBGC requests individuals to provide identifying information that the individual would provide as part of an initial contact with the PBGC. All requested information is needed to enable the PBGC to determine benefit entitlements and to make appropriate payments. The collection also includes pages on the PBGC's Web site at www.pbgc.gov,, that, for certain large plans, provide respondents with specific information about their pension plan and enable them to obtain a rough estimate of their benefit, either by using an online benefit estimate calculator or by completing an online form and submitting it to the PBGC to compute an estimate.

As part of the PBGC's ongoing implementation of the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA), the PBGC is creating an application, My PBA, on its Web site at www.pbgc.gov,, through which plan participants will be able to conduct electronic transactions with the PBGC. My PBA will feature a variety of transactions, including applying for pension benefits, designating a beneficiary, granting a power of attorney, electing monthly payments, electing to withhold income tax from periodic payments, changing contact information, and applying for electronic direct deposit. Initially, My PBA will be available for a limited number of trusteed plans. As the PBGC gains experience, it intends to make My PBA available for all trusteed plans.

The existing collection of information under the regulation was approved under control number 1212-0055 (expires April 30, 2006). The PBGC intends to request that OMB extend its approval (with modifications) for three years from the date of approval. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

The PBGC estimates that 134,950 benefit application or information forms will be filed annually by individuals entitled to benefits from the PBGC and that the associated burden is 76,200 hours (an average of about one-half hour per response) and $49,931.50 (an average of $.37 per response). The PBGC further estimates that 5,500 individuals annually will provide the PBGC with identifying information as part of an initial contact and that the associated burden is 1,500 hours (an average of about one-quarter hour per response) and $1,100 (an average of $.20 per response). Thus, the total estimated annual burden associated with this collection of information is 77,700 hours and $51,041.50. (These estimates include paper and electronic filings.)

The PBGC is soliciting public comments to—

• Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;
• Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
• Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
• Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

Issued at Washington, DC, this 15th day of July, 2003.

Stuart A. Sirkin,

Director, Corporate Policy and Research Department, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.