[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 241 (Monday, December 15, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76063-76065]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-29635]


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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 
two (2) Information Collection Requests (ICR) to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) to request extensions without change of currently approved 
collections of information. Our ICR describes the information we seek 
to collect from the public. Review and approval by OIRA ensures that we 
impose appropriate paperwork burdens.
    The RRB invites comments on the proposed collections of information 
to

[[Page 76064]]

determine (1) the practical utility of the collections; (2) the 
accuracy of the estimated burden of the collections; (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
    1. Evidence of Marital Relationship--Living with Requirements; OMB 
3220-0021. To support an application for a spouse or widow(er)'s 
annuity under Sections 2(c) or 2(d) of the Railroad Retirement Act, an 
applicant must submit proof of a valid marriage to a railroad employee. 
In some cases, the existence of a marital relationship is not 
formalized by a civil or religious ceremony. In other cases, questions 
may arise about the legal termination of a prior marriage of an 
employee, spouse, or widow(er). In these instances, the RRB must secure 
additional information to resolve questionable marital relationships. 
The circumstances requiring an applicant to submit documentary evidence 
of marriage are prescribed in 20 CFR 219.30.
    In the absence of documentary evidence to support the existence of 
a valid marriage between a spouse or widow(er) annuity applicant and a 
railroad employee, the RRB needs to obtain information to determine if 
a valid marriage existed. The RRB utilizes Forms G-124, Statement of 
Marital Relationship; G-124a, Statement Regarding Marriage; G-237, 
Statement Regarding Marital Status; G-238, Statement of Residence; and 
G-238a, Statement Regarding Divorce or Annulment to secure the needed 
information. One response is requested of each respondent. Completion 
is required to obtain benefits.

Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden

    The estimated annual respondent burden for the information 
collection is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Annual
                        Form (s)                            responses      Time  (min)    Burden  (hrs)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-124 (In person)...............................................             125              15              31
G-124 (By mail).................................................              75              20              25
G-124a..........................................................             300              10              50
G-237 (In person)...............................................              75              15              19
G-237 (By mail).................................................              75              20              25
G-238 (In person)...............................................             150               3               8
G-238 (By mail).................................................             150               5              13
G-238a..........................................................             150              10              25
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................           1,100  ..............             196
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (73 FR 48247 & 48248 on August 18, 2008) required 
by 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Evidence of Marital Relationship--Living with Requirements.
    OMB Control Number: OMB 3220-0021.
    Form(s) submitted: G-124, G-124a, G-237, G-238, G-238a.
    Expiration date of current OMB clearance: 12/31/2008.
    Type of request: Extension of a currently approved collection of 
information.
    Affected public: Individuals or households.
    Abstract: Under the RRA, to obtain a benefit as a spouse of an 
employee annuitant or as the widow(er) of the deceased employee, 
applicants must submit information to be used in determining if they 
meet the marriage requirements for such benefits. The collection 
obtains information supporting claimed common-law marriage, termination 
of previous marriages and residency requirements.
    Changes Proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to the forms in the 
collection.
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 1,100.
    Total annual responses: 1,100.
    Total annual reporting hours: 196.
    2. Evidence for Application of Overall Minimum: OMB 3220-0083.
    Under Section 3(f)(3) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), the 
total monthly benefits payable to a railroad employee and his/her 
family are guaranteed to be no less than the amount which would be 
payable if the employee's railroad service had been covered by the 
Social Security Act. The Social Security Overall Minimum Guarantee is 
prescribed in 20 CFR 229. To administer this provision, the Railroad 
Retirement Board (RRB) requires information about a retired employee's 
spouse and child(ren) who would not be eligible for benefits under the 
RRA but would be eligible for benefits under the Social Security Act if 
the employee's railroad service had been covered by that Act. The RRB 
obtains the required information by the use of forms G-319 (Statement 
Regarding Family and Earnings for Special Guaranty Computation) and G-
320 (Statement by Employee Annuitant Regarding Student Age 18-19). One 
form is completed by each respondent.

Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden

    The estimated annual respondent burden for the information 
collection is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Annual
                        Form (s)                            responses      Time  (min)    Burden  (hrs)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-319 Employee completed:
    With assistance.............................................               5              26               2
    Without assistance..........................................             100              55              92
G-319 Spouse completed:
    With assistance.............................................               5              30               3
    Without assistance..........................................             100              60             100

[[Page 76065]]

 
G-320 (Age 18 at Special Guaranty begin date or Special Guaranty              95              15              24
 Age 18 Attainments)............................................
(Student monitoring done in Sept, March, and at end of school                170              15              43
 year)..........................................................
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................             475  ..............             264
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (73 FR 37515 & 37516 on July 1, 2008) required by 
44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Evidence for Application for Overall Minimum.
    OMB Control Number: OMB 3220-0083.
    Form(s) submitted: G-319, G-320.
    Expiration date of current OMB clearance: 12/31/2008.
    Type of request: Extension of a currently approved collection of 
information.
    Affected public: Individuals or households.
    Abstract: Under Section 3(f)(3) of the Railroad Retirement Act, the 
total monthly benefits payable to a railroad employee and his family 
are guaranteed to be no less than the amount which would be payable if 
the employee's railroad service had been covered by the Social Security 
Act.
    Changes Proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to the forms in the 
collection.
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 475.
    Total annual responses: 475.
    Total annual reporting hours: 264.
    Additional information or comments: Copies of the form and 
supporting documents can be obtained from Charles Mierzwa, the agency 
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] 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. E8-29635 Filed 12-12-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P