[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6703-6704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-2945]


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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

[[Page 6704]]

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:
    Supplement to Claim of Person Outside the United States; OMB 3220-
0155.
    Under the Social Security Amendments of 1983 (Public Law 98-21), 
which amends Section 202(t) of the Social Security Act, the Tier I or 
the O/M (overall minimum) portion of an annuity and Medicare benefits 
payable under the Railroad Retirement Act to certain beneficiaries 
living outside the U.S., may be withheld effective January 1, 1985. The 
benefit withholding provision of P.L. 98-21 applies to divorced 
spouses, spouses, minor or disabled children, students, and survivors 
of railroad employees who (1) initially became eligible for Tier I 
amounts, O/M shares, and Medicare benefits after December 31, 1984; (2) 
are not U.S citizens or U.S. nationals; and (3) have resided outside 
the U.S for more than six consecutive months starting with the annuity 
beginning date. The benefit withholding provision does not apply, 
however to a beneficiary who is exempt under either a treaty obligation 
of the U.S., in effect on August 1, 1956, or a totalization agreement 
between the U.S. and the country in which the beneficiary resides, or 
to an individual who is exempt under other criteria specified in Pub. 
L. 98-21.
    RRB Form G-45, Supplement to Claim of Person Outside the United 
States, is currently used by the RRB to determine applicability of the 
withholding provision of Pub. L. 98-21. Completion of the form is 
required to obtain or retain a benefit. One response is requested of 
each respondent. The RRB estimates that 100 Form G-45's are completed 
annually. The completion time for Form G-45 is estimated at 10 minutes 
per response.
    The RRB proposes no changes to Form G-45.
    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 or send an e-mail request to [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 send an e-mail to 
[email protected]. Written comments should be received within 60 
days of this notice.

Charles Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-2945 Filed 2-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P