[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 3 (Monday, January 6, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 676-677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-31502]


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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.
    1. Title and purpose of information collection: Public Service 
Pension Questionnaires; OMB 3220-0136.
    Public Law 95-216 amended the Social Security Act of 1977 by 
providing, in part, that spouse or survivor benefits may be reduced 
when the beneficiary is in receipt of a pension based on employment 
with a Federal, State, or local governmental unit. Initially, the 
reduction was equal to the full amount of the government pension.
    Public Law 98-21 changed the reduction to two-thirds of the amount 
of the government pension. Public Law 108-203 amended the Social 
Security Act by changing the requirement for exemption to public 
service offset, that Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes 
be deducted from the public service wages for the last 60 months of 
public service employment, rather than just the last day of public 
service employment.
    Sections 4(a)(1) and 4(f)(1) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) 
provides that a spouse or survivor annuity should be equal in amount to 
what the annuitant would receive if entitled to a like benefit from the 
Social Security Administration. Therefore, the public service pension 
(PSP) provisions apply to RRA annuities. RRB regulations pertaining to 
the collection of evidence relating to public service pensions or 
worker's compensation paid to spouse or survivor applicants or 
annuitants are found in 20 CFR 219.64c.
    The RRB utilizes Form G-208, Public Service Pension Questionnaire, 
and Form G-212, Public Service Monitoring Questionnaire, to obtain 
information used to determine whether an annuity reduction is in order. 
Completion of the forms is voluntary. However, failure to complete the 
forms could result in the nonpayment of benefits. One response is 
requested of each respondent. The RRB proposes no changes to the forms 
in the collection.

                                      Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden
                             [The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Annual           Time           Burden
                            Form No.                                 responses       (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-208...........................................................              70              16            19.0
G-212...........................................................           1,100              15           275.0
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................           1,170  ..............           294.0
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    2. Title and purpose of information collection: Report of Medicaid 
State Office on Beneficiary's Buy-In Status; OMB 3220-0185.
    Under Section 7(d) of the Railroad Retirement Act, the RRB 
administers the

[[Page 677]]

Medicare program for persons covered by the railroad retirement system. 
Under Section 1843 of the Social Security Act, states may enter into 
``buy-in agreements'' with the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
for the purpose of enrolling certain groups of low-income individuals 
under the Medicare medical insurance (Part B) program and paying the 
premiums for their insurance coverage. Generally, these individuals are 
categorically needy under Medicaid and meet the eligibility 
requirements for Medicare Part B. States can also include in their buy-
in agreements, individuals who are eligible for medical assistance 
only. The RRB uses Form RL-380-F, Report to State Medicaid Office, to 
obtain information needed to determine if certain railroad 
beneficiaries are entitled to receive Supplementary Medical Insurance 
program coverage under a state buy-in agreement in states in which they 
reside. Completion of Form RL-380-F is voluntary. One response is 
received from each respondent. The RRB proposes no changes to Form RL-
380-F.

                                      Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden
                             [The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Annual           Time           Burden
                            Form No.                                 responses       (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RL-380-F........................................................             600              10             100
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    Additional Information or Comments: To request more information or 
to obtain a copy of the information collection justification, forms, 
and/or supporting material, contact Dana Hickman at (312) 751-4981 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 emailed to 
[email protected]. Written comments should be received within 60 
days of this notice.

Charles Mierzwa,
Chief of Information Resources Management.
[FR Doc. 2013-31502 Filed 1-3-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P