[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 142 (Thursday, July 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39882-39883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19508]


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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: Public Service Pension 
Questionnaires; OMB 3220-0136 Public Law 95-216 amended the Social 
Security Act of 1977 by providing, in part, that spouse or survivor 
benefits may be reduced when the beneficiary is in receipt of a pension 
based on employment with a Federal, State, or local governmental unit.
    Initially, the reduction was equal to the full amount of the 
government pension. Public Law 98-21, changed the reduction to two-
thirds of the amount of the government pension. Sections 4(a)(1) and 
4(f)(1) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) provides that a spouse or 
survivor annuity should be equal in amount to what the annuitant would 
receive if entitled to a like benefit from the Social Security 
Administration. Therefore, the public service pension (PSP) reduction 
provision applies to RRA annuities.
    Regulations pertaining to the collection of evidence relating to 
public service pensions or worker's compensation paid to spouse or 
survivor applicants or annuitants are found in 20 CFR 219.64c.
    The RRB utilizes Form G-208, Pubic Service Pension Questionnaire, 
and Form G-212, Public Service Monitoring Questionnaire, to obtain 
information used to determine whether an annuity reduction is in order. 
Completion is voluntary. However, failure to complete the forms could 
result in the nonpayment of benefits. One response is requested of each 
respondent.
    The RRB proposes to revise Form G-208 to add an item that requests 
the

[[Page 39883]]

effective date of a PSP recipient's next scheduled increase. The 
addition of language required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
and minor nonburden impacting editorial and reformatting changes are 
also proposed. The RRB also proposes a change to Form G-212 to add an 
item requesting the effective date of a PSP recipient's next scheduled 
cost-of-living increase. Minor nonburden impacting editorial and 
reformatting changes are also proposed. The completion time for the G-
208 is estimated at 10 minutes. The completion time for the G-212 is 
estimated at 3 minutes. The RRB estimates that approximately 7,000 G-
208's and 700 G-212'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. 97-19508 Filed 7-23-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-M