[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6827-6828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-2967]


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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). 
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 use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments to the 
RRB or OIRA must contain the OMB control number of the ICR. For proper 
consideration of your comments, it is best if the RRB and OIRA receive 
them within 30 days of the publication date.
    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

[[Page 6828]]

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 either at the same time as railroad 
employment, 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.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (76 FR 71087 on November 16, 2011) required by 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Annual Earnings Questionnaire for Annuitants in Last Pre-
Retirement Non-Railroad Employment.
    OMB Control Number: 3220-0179.
    Form(s) submitted: G-19L.
    Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected public: Individuals or Households.
    Abstract: Under Section 2(e)(3) of the Railroad Retirement Act, an 
annuity is not payable or is reduced for any month in which the 
beneficiary works for a railroad or earns more than the prescribed 
amounts. The collection obtains earnings information needed by the 
Railroad Retirement Board to determine possible reductions in annuities 
because of earnings.
    Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to Form G-19L.
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
    Estimated Completion Time for Form G-19L: 15 minutes.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 300.
    Total annual responses: 300.
    Total annual reporting hours: 75.
    Additional Information or Comments: Copies of the forms and 
supporting documents can be obtained from Charles Mierzwa at (312) 751-
3363 or [email protected].
    Comments regarding the information collection should be addressed 
to Charles Mierzwa, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, 
Chicago, Illinois, 60611-2092 or [email protected] and to the OMB 
Desk Officer for the RRB, Fax: (202) 395-6974, Email address: [email protected].

Charles Mierzwa,
Chief of Information Resources Management.
[FR Doc. 2012-2967 Filed 2-8-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P