[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]


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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

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