[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 10 (Thursday, January 15, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2366-2367]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-870]


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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, Public Service Pension Questionnaire, 
and Form G-212, Public Service Monitoring Questionnaire, to obtain 
information used to determine whether an annuity reduction is in order. 
The RRB proposes a minor non-burden impacting editorial change to Form 
G-208. Form G-212 is being revised to add additional questions needed 
to accurately adjust an annuitant's monthly benefit. The new questions 
are intended to eliminate the

[[Page 2367]]

need for follow-up contact with an annuitant.
    Completion of the forms is voluntary. However, failure to complete 
the forms could result in the nonpayment of benefits. One response is 
requested of each respondent. The completion time for the G-208 and the 
G-212 is estimated at 15 minutes. The RRB estimates that approximately 
70 Form G-208's and 1,100 Form G-212's are completed annually.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 or [email protected]. Comments regarding the information 
collection should be addressed to Ronald. J. Hodapp, Railroad 
Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60611-2092 
or [email protected]. Written comments should be received within 60 
days of this notice.

Charles Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-870 Filed 1-14-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-M