[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 24, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8413-8414]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-3705]


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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) will be sending 
an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to 
request a revision to the following collection of information: 3220-
0042, Application for Spouse Annuity Under the Railroad Retirement Act, 
consisting of RRB Form(s) AA-3, Application for Spouse/Divorced Spouse 
Annuity and AA-3cert, Application Summary and Certification. 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 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 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.

Application for Spouse Annuity Under the Railroad Retirement Act; OMB 
3220-0042

    Section 2(c) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), provides for the 
payment of annuities to spouses of railroad retirement annuitants who 
meet the requirements under the RRA. The age requirements for a spouse 
annuity depend on the employee's age and date of retirement and the 
employee's years of railroad service. The requirements

[[Page 8414]]

relating to the annuities are prescribed in 20 CFR 216, 218, 219, 232, 
234, and 295.
    The RRB currently uses the electronic AA-3cert, Application Summary 
and Certification process and manual Form AA-3, Application for Spouse/
Divorced Spouse Annuity, to obtain the information needed to determine 
an applicant's entitlement to an annuity and the amount of the annuity.
    The AA-3cert process obtains information from an applicant by means 
of an interview with an RRB field-office representative. During the 
interview, the field-office representative enters the information 
obtained into an on-line information system. Upon completion of the 
interview, the applicant receives Form AA-3cert, Application Summary 
and Certification, which summarizes the information that was provided 
by/or verified by the applicant, for review and signature. The RRB also 
uses manual Form AA-3 in instances where the RRB representative is 
unable to contact the applicant in person or by telephone i.e., the 
applicant lives in another country. Completion of Forms AA-3 and AA-
3cert is required to obtain a benefit. One response is requested of 
each respondent.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (74FR 65551 on December 10, 2009) required by 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Application for Spouse Annuity Under the Railroad Retirement 
Act.
    OMB Control Number 3220-0042.
    Form(s) submitted: AA-3, Application for Spouse/Divorced Spouse 
Annuity, AA-3cert, Application Summary and Certification.
    Type of request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected public: Individuals or households.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
    Abstract: The Railroad Retirement Act provides for the payment of 
annuities to spouses of railroad retirement annuitants who meet the 
requirements under the Act. The application obtains information 
supporting the claim for benefits based on being a spouse of an 
annuitant. The information is used for determining entitlement to and 
amount of the annuity applied for.
    Changes Proposed: The RRB proposes minor non-burden impacting, 
editorial changes to Form AA-3cert and Form AA-3.
    The burden estimate for this ICR is proposed as follows:
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 11,050.
    Total annual responses: 11,050.
    Total annual reporting hours: 5,642.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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: Comments regarding the information collection should be 
addressed to Patricia Henaghan, 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,
RRB Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-3705 Filed 2-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P