[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 101 (Thursday, May 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25928-25929]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12964]



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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:
    Medical Reports: OMB 3220-0038.
    Under Sections 2(a)(1)(iv), 2(a)(2) and 2(a)(3) of the Railroad 
Retirement Act (RRA), annuities are payable to qualified railroad 
employees whose physical or mental condition is such that they are 
unable to (1) work in their regular occupation (occupational 
disability); or (2) work at all (permanent total disability). The 
requirements for establishment of disability and proof of continuance 
of disability are prescribed in 20 CFR 220. Under Sections 2(c) and 
2(d) of the RRA, annuities are also payable to qualified spouses, 
widows or widowers who have in their care a qualified child who is 
under a disability which began before age 22; widows or widowers age 
50-59 who are under a disability; and remarried widows and surviving 
divorced wives who would also be entitled under Sections 202(e) and 
202(f) of the Social Security Act.

[[Page 25929]]

For entitlement under Section 2(d)(v) of the RRA, the individual must 
have an impairment which is so severe that, in accordance with the 
regulations of the Social Security Administration, any gainful activity 
would be precluded. The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) also determines 
entitlement to a period of disability or early Medicare entitlement for 
qualified claimants.
    To enable the RRB to determine the eligibility of an applicant or 
annuitant for disability benefits under the RRA, the RRB requests 
supportive medical evidence from railroad employers, personal 
physicians, private hospitals and state agencies. The RRB currently 
utilizes Forms G-3EMP, G-250, G-250a, G-260, GL-12, RL-11b, and RL-11d 
to obtain the necessary medical evidence. Completion is voluntary. One 
response is requested of each respondent.

                      Estimate of Respondent Burden                     
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Annual      Time     Burden 
                Form No.                  responses  (minutes)   (hours)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-3EMP..................................      3,800         10       633
G-250...................................     13,500         37     8,325
G-250a..................................     23,500         20     7,833
G-260...................................         50         25        21
GL-12...................................         10         40         7
RL-11b..................................      9,800         10     1,633
RL-11d..................................        250         10        42
                                         -----------           ---------
    Total...............................     50,910  .........    18,494
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The RRB proposes minor editorial changes to all of the forms in the 
collection, primarily to provide respondents the option of responding 
by facsimile machine and to incorporate language required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

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 N. Rush 
Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092. Written comments should be 
received within 60 days of this notice.
Chuck Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-12964 Filed 5-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-M