[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 134 (Friday, July 13, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38632-38633]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-13689]


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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD


Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is forwarding 
an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for the following collection of information: 3220-0136, Public Service 
Pension Questionnaires. Review and approval by OIRA ensures that we 
impose appropriate paperwork burdens.
    The RRB invites comments on the proposed collection of information 
to determine (1) the practical utility of the collection; (2) the 
accuracy of the estimated burden of the collection; (3) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility and clarity of the information that is the subject 
of collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of collections on 
respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments to RRB or OIRA must 
contain the OMB control number of the ICR. For proper consideration of 
your comments, it is best if RRB and OIRA receive them within 30 days 
of publication date.
    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. Public Law 108-203 amended the Social 
Security Act by changing the requirement for exemption to public 
service offset, that Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes 
be deducted from the public service wages for the last 60 months of 
public service employment, rather than just the last day of public 
service employment.
    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

[[Page 38633]]

annuitant would receive if entitled to a like benefit from the Social 
Security Administration. Therefore, the public service pension (PSP) 
provisions apply to RRA annuities.
    RRB 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 no changes to Form G-208. Non-burden impacting 
editorial and formatting changes are proposed to Form G-212. The RRB 
estimates the completion time for RRB Form G-208 at 16 minutes and G-
212 at 15 minutes.
    Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the 
public. If a respondent fails to complete the form(s), the RRB may be 
unable to pay them benefits. One response is required from a 
respondent.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (72 FR 14628 on March 28, 2007) required by 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Public Service Pension Questionnaires.
    OMB Control Number: 3220-0136
    Form(s) submitted: G-208, Public Service Pension Questionnaire; G-
212, Public Service Monitoring Questionnaire.
    Type of request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected public: Individuals or households.
    Abstract: A spouse or survivor annuity under the Railroad 
Retirement Act may be subjected to a reduction for a public service 
pension. The questionnaires obtain information needed to determine if 
the reduction applies and the amount of such reduction.
    Changes Proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to Form G-208 and 
minor, non-burden impacting editorial changes to Form G-212.
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
     Estimated annual number of respondents: 1,170.
     Total annual responses: 1,170.
     Total annual reporting hours: 294.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS:  Copies of the forms and supporting 
documents can be obtained from Charles Mierzwa, the agency clearance 
officer (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] and to the OMB 
Desk Officer for the RRB, at the Office of Management and Budget, Room 
10230, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.

Charles Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-13689 Filed 7-12-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P