[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 144 (Friday, July 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43480-43481]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17068]


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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD


Proposed Data Collection Available for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of l995 which provides opportunity for 
public comment on new or revised data collections, the Railroad 
Retirement Board 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:
    RUIA Claims Notification and Verification System: OMB 3220-0171. 
Section 5(b) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA), 
requires that effective January 1, 1990, ``when a claim for benefits is 
filed with the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), the RRB shall provide 
notice of such claim to the claimant's base year employer or employers 
and afford such employer or employers an opportunity to submit 
information relevant to the claim before making an initial 
determination on the claim. When the RRB initially determines to pay 
benefits to a claimant under the RUIA, the RRB shall provide notice of 
such determination to the claimant's base-year employer or employers.''
    The purpose of the RUIA Claims Notification System is to provide to 
unemployment and sickness claimant's base year employer or current 
employer, notice of each application and claim for benefits under the 
RUIA and to provide an opportunity for employers to convey information 
relevant to the proper adjudication of the claim. Railroad employers 
receive notice of applications and claims by one of three options. The 
first option, Form Letter ID-4K, is a computer generated form letter 
notice of all unemployment applications, unemployment claims and 
sickness claims received from employees of a railroad company on a 
particular day. Form Letters ID-4K are mailed on a daily basis to 
officials designated by railroad employers. The second option is an 
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) version of the Form Letter ID-4K 
notice. EDI notices of applications are transmitted to participating 
railroads on a daily basis, generally on the same day that applications 
are received. The third option, an Internet equivalent ID-4K, provides 
the required notification by the RRB through the RRB's Internet-based 
Employer Reporting System (ERS). Completion is voluntary.
    Railroad employers can respond to RRB notices of applications and 
claims manually by mailing a completed ID-4K back to the RRB or 
electronically via EDI or the ERS. No changes are being proposed to any 
of the ID-4K options.
    Upon receipt of notice that the RRB has allowed a claim either in 
whole, or in part, the claimant's base-year employer(s) may request a 
review of the determination to pay benefits, if the employers believe 
the determination is incorrect. The RRB utilizes Form Letter ID-4DE, 
Notice of RUIA Claim Determinations, an Electronic Data Interchange 
(EDI) version of the Form Letter ID-4K notice and an Internet 
equivalent ID-4E to notify base-year employers that the RRB has made a 
determination to pay benefits and to allow them to request the RRB to 
review the determination. Form Letter ID-4E is mailed on a daily basis, 
generally on the same day that the claims are approved for payment. The 
EDI and Internet-equivalent ID-4Es are also sent to participating 
railroads on a daily basis, generally on the same day that the claims 
are approved for payment. Railroad employers can then request that the 
RRB review the determination either by filing a completed ID-4E by 
mail, EDI, or via the Internet. No changes are being proposed to any of 
the ID-4E options. Completion is voluntary.
    The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows:

                                      Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden
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                                                                      Annual
                           Form number                               responses      Time (min)     Burden hours
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ID-4K (Manual)..................................................           1,250               2              42
ID-4K (EDI).....................................................          14,850              **             210
ID-4K (Internet)................................................           2,500               2              83
ID-4E (Manual)..................................................              75               2               3
ID-4E (Internet)................................................              25               2               1
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------

[[Page 43481]]

 
    Total.......................................................          18,700  ..............            339
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** The burden for the 5 participating employers who transmit EDI responses is calculated at 10 minutes each per
  day, 251 workdays a year or 210 total hours of burden.

    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.

Charles Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-17068 Filed 7-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P