[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 26, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 28539]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-13406]


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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 released 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 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, widow(ers) who have in their care a qualified 
child who is under a disability which began before age 22; widow(ers) 
age 50-59 who are under a disability; and remarried widows and 
surviving divorced wives who would also be entitled under section 
202(e) and 202(f) of the Social Security Act. For entitlement under 
section 2(c), 2(d)(i), and 2(d)(iii) of the RRA, an individual is 
disabled if he/she is unable to engage in any regular employment. 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 to each respondent

                      Estimate of Respondent Burden
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Annual     Time     Burden
                 Form No.                  responses   (min)     (hrs.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-3EMP...................................        600       10        100
G-250....................................     12,000       37     7,4000
G-250a...................................     12,000       20      4,000
G-260....................................        100       25         42
RL-11b...................................      5,000       10        833
RL-11d...................................        250       10         42
                                          ------------------------------
    Total................................     29,950  .......     12,417
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The RRB proposes to delete Form GL-12 from the collection as it is 
no longer required. Minor non-burden impacting editorial changes are 
being proposed to the remaining forms in the collection.

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. 99-13406 Filed 5-25-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-M