[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 221 (Wednesday, November 16, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 71087]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-29544]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 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: Annual Earnings 
Questionnaire for Annuitants in Last Pre-Retirement Non-Railroad 
Employment; OMB 3220-0179.
    Under section 2(e)(3) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), an 
annuity is not payable for any month in which a beneficiary works for a 
railroad. In addition, an annuity is reduced for any month in which the 
beneficiary works for an employer other than a railroad employer and 
earns more than a prescribed amount. Under the 1988 amendments to the 
RRA, the Tier II portion of the regular annuity and any supplemental 
annuity must be reduced by one dollar for each two dollars of Last Pre-
Retirement Non-Railroad Employment (LPE) earnings for each month of 
such service. However, the reduction cannot exceed fifty percent of the 
Tier II and supplemental annuity amount for the month to which such 
deductions apply. The LPE generally refers to an annuitant's last 
employment with a non-railroad person, company, or institution prior to 
retirement which was performed whether at the same time of, or after an 
annuitant stopped railroad employment. The collection obtains earnings 
information needed by the RRB to determine if possible reductions in 
annuities are in order due to LPE.
    The RRB utilizes Form G-19L, Annual Earnings Questionnaire for 
Annuitants in Last Pre-Retirement Non-Railroad Employment, to obtain 
LPE earnings information from annuitants. One response is requested of 
each respondent. Completion is required to retain a benefit. The RRB 
proposes no changes to Form G-19L.

                                      Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden
                             [The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Annual
                           Form number                               responses    Time (minutes)  Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-19L...........................................................             300              15              75
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................             300  ..............              75
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additional Information or Comments: To request more information or 
to obtain a copy of the information collection justification, forms, 
and/or supporting material, contact Charles Mierzwa, the RRB Clearance 
Officer, at (312) 751-3363 or [email protected]. Comments 
regarding the information collection should be addressed to Patricia 
Henaghan, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, 
Illinois 60611-2092 or emailed to [email protected]. Written 
comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Charles Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-29544 Filed 11-15-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P