[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 36 (Friday, February 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11663-11666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03578]


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

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 4 
Information Collection Requests (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 collections of information 
to 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 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.
    1. Title and purpose of information collection: Placement Service; 
OMB 3220-0057. Section 12(i) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act 
(RUIA), authorizes the RRB to establish, maintain, and operate free 
employment offices to provide claimants for unemployment benefits with 
job placement opportunities. Section 704(d) of the Regional Railroad 
Reorganization Act of 1973, as amended, and as extended by the 
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, required the 
RRB to maintain and distribute a list of railroad job vacancies, by 
class and craft, based on information furnished by rail carriers to the 
RRB. Although the requirement under the law expired effective August 
13, 1987, the RRB has continued to obtain this information in keeping 
with its employment service responsibilities under Section 12(k) of the 
RUIA. Application procedures for the job placement program are 
prescribed in 20 CFR 325. The procedures pertaining to the RRB's 
obtaining and distributing job vacancy reports furnished by rail 
carriers are described in 20 CFR 346.1.
    The RRB currently utilizes four forms to obtain information needed 
to carry out its job placement responsibilities. Form ES-2, Central 
Register Notification, is used by the RRB to obtain information needed 
to update a computerized central register of separated and furloughed 
railroad employees available for employment in the railroad industry. 
Forms ES-21, Referral to State Employment Service, and ES-21c, Report 
of State Employment Service Office, are used by the RRB to provide 
placement assistance for unemployed railroad employees through 
arrangements with State Employment Service offices. Form UI-35, Field 
Office Record of Claimant Interview, is used primarily by the RRB to 
conduct in-person interviews of claimants for unemployment benefits.
    Completion of these forms is required to obtain or maintain a 
benefit. In addition, the RRB also collects Railroad Job Vacancies 
information received voluntarily from railroad employers.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (81 FR 89521 on December 12, 2016) required by 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Placement Service.
    OMB Control Number: 3220-0057.
    Form(s) submitted: ES-2, ES-21, ES-21c, UI-35 and Job Vacancies 
Report.
    Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected public: Private Sector, Businesses or other for-profits; 
Individuals or Households; State, Local, and Tribal Governments.
    Abstract: Under the RUIA, the Railroad Retirement Board provides 
job placement assistance for unemployed railroad workers. The 
collection obtains information from job applicants, railroad employers, 
and State Employment Service offices for use in placement, for 
providing referrals for job openings, reports of referral results and 
for verifying and monitoring claimant eligibility.
    Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no revisions to the forms in the 
collection.
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Annual           Time           Burden
                            Form No.                                 responses       (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ES-2............................................................           3,750             .25              16
ES-21...........................................................              80             .68             0.9
ES-21c..........................................................              25            1.50             0.6
UI-35 in person.................................................           6,300            7.00             735
UI-35 by mail...................................................             700           10.50             123
Job Vacancies...................................................             470           10.00              78
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................          11,325  ..............             953
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Title and Purpose of information collection: Certification 
Regarding Rights to Unemployment Benefits; OMB 3220-0079
    Under Section 4 of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA), 
an employee who leaves work voluntarily is disqualified for 
unemployment benefits unless the employee left work for good cause and 
is not qualified for unemployment benefits under any other law. RRB 
Form

[[Page 11664]]

UI-45, Claimant's Statement--Voluntary Leaving of Work, is used by the 
RRB to obtain the claimant's statement when the claimant, the 
claimant's employer, or another source indicates that the claimant has 
voluntarily left work.
    Completion of Form UI-45 is required to obtain or retain benefits. 
One response is received from each respondent.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (81 FR 89522 on December 12, 2016) required by 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Certification Regarding Rights to Unemployment Benefits.
    OMB Control Number: 3220-0079.
    Form(s) submitted: UI-45.
    Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected public: Individuals or Households.
    Abstract: In administering the disqualification for the voluntary 
leaving of work provision of Section 4 of the Railroad Unemployment 
Insurance Act, the Railroad Retirement Board investigates an 
unemployment claim that indicates the claimant left voluntarily. The 
certification obtains information needed to determine if the leaving 
was for good cause.
    Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to Form UI-45.
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Annual           Time           Burden
                            Form No.                                 responses       (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UI-45...........................................................             200              15              50
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Title and Purpose of information collection: Self-Employment and 
Substantial Service Questionnaire; OMB 3220-0138.
    Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) provides for payment 
of annuities to qualified employees and their spouses. In order to 
receive an age and service annuity, Section 2(e)(3) states that an 
applicant must stop all railroad work and give up any rights to return 
to such work. However, applicants are not required to stop nonrailroad 
work or self-employment.
    The RRB considers some work claimed as ``self-employment'' to 
actually be employment for an employer. Whether the RRB classifies a 
particular activity as self-employment or as work for an employer 
depends upon the circumstances of each case. These circumstances are 
prescribed in 20 CFR 216.
    Under the 1988 amendments to the RRA, an applicant is no longer 
required to stop work for a ``Last Pre-Retirement Nonrailroad 
Employer'' (LPE). However, Section 2(f)(6) of the RRA requires that a 
portion of the employee's Tier II benefit and supplemental annuity be 
deducted for earnings from the ``LPE.''
    The ``LPE'' is defined as the last person, company, or institution 
with whom the employee or spouse applicant was employed concurrently 
with, or after, the applicant's last railroad employment and before 
their annuity beginning date. If a spouse never worked for a railroad, 
the LPE is the last person for whom he or she worked.
    The RRB utilizes Form AA-4, Self-Employment and Substantial Service 
Questionnaire, to obtain information needed to determine if the work 
the applicant claims is self-employment is really self-employment or 
work for an LPE or railroad service. If the work is self-employment, 
the questionnaire identifies any month in which the applicant did not 
perform substantial service. Completion is voluntary. However, failure 
to complete the form could result in the nonpayment of benefits. One 
response is requested of each respondent.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (81 FR 89522 on December 12, 2016) required by 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Self-Employment and Substantial Service Questionnaire.
    OMB Control Number: 3220-0138.
    Form(s) submitted: AA-4.
    Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected public: Individuals or Households.
    Abstract: Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) provides 
for payment of annuities to qualified employees and their spouses. Work 
for a Last Pre-Retirement Nonrailroad Employer (LPE), and work in self-
employment affect payment in different ways. This collection obtains 
information to determine whether claimed self-employment is really 
self-employment, and not work for a railroad or LPE.
    Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to Form AA-4.
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Annual           Time           Burden
                            Form No.                                 responses       (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AA-4 (With assistance)..........................................             570              40             380
AA-4 (Without assistance).......................................              30              70              35
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................             600  ..............             415
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. Title and purpose of information collection: Withholding 
Certificate for Railroad Retirement Monthly Annuity Payments; OMB 3220-
0149.
    The Internal Revenue Code requires that all payers of tax liable 
private pensions to U.S. citizens or residents: (1) Notify each 
recipient at least concurrent with initial withholding that the payer 
is, in fact, withholding benefits for tax liability and that the 
recipient has the option of electing not to have the payer withhold, or 
to withhold at a specific rate; (2) withhold benefits for tax purposes 
(in the absence of the recipient's election not to withhold benefits); 
and (3) notify all beneficiaries, at least annually, that they have the 
option to change their withholding status or elect not to have benefits 
withheld.
    The RRB provides Form RRB-W4P, Withholding Certificate for Railroad

[[Page 11665]]

Retirement Payments, to its annuitants to exercise their withholding 
options.
    Completion of the form is required to obtain or retain a benefit. 
One response is requested of each respondent.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (81 FR 89998 on December 13, 2016) required by 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Withholding Certificate for Railroad Retirement Monthly 
Annuity Payments.
    OMB Control Number: 3220-0149.
    Form(s) submitted: RRB W-4P.
    Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected public: Individuals or Households.
    Abstract: Under Public Law 98-76, railroad retirement 
beneficiaries' Tier II, dual vested and supplemental benefits are 
subject to income tax under private pension rules. Under Public Law 99-
514, the non-social security equivalent benefit portion of Tier I is 
also taxable under private pension rules. The collection obtains the 
information needed by the Railroad Retirement Board to implement the 
income tax withholding provisions.
    Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to Form RRB W-4P.
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 25,000.
    Total annual responses: 25,000.
    Total annual reporting hours: 1.
    5. Title and Purpose of information collection: Earnings 
Information Request; OMB 3220-0184 Under Section 2 of the Railroad 
Retirement Act, an annuity is not payable, or is reduced for any 
month(s) in which the beneficiary works for a railroad or earns more 
than prescribed amounts. The provisions relating to the reduction or 
non-payment of annuities by reason of work are prescribed in 20 CFR 
230.
    The RRB utilizes Form G-19-F, Earnings Information Request, to 
obtain earnings information that either had not been previously 
reported or erroneously reported by a beneficiary.
    Currently the claimant is asked to enter the date they stopped 
working, if applicable. If a respondent fails to complete the form, the 
RRB may be unable to pay them benefits. One response is requested of 
each respondent.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (81 FR 89998 on December 13, 2016) required by 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Earnings Information Request.
    OMB Control Number: 3220-0184.
    Form(s) submitted: G-19-F.
    Type of request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected public: Individuals or Households.
    Abstract: Under Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act, an 
annuity is not payable, or is reduced for any month(s) in which the 
beneficiary works for a railroad or earns more than prescribed amounts. 
The collection obtains earnings information not previously or 
erroneously reported by a beneficiary.
    Changes proposed: The RRB proposes the implementation of an 
Internet-based equivalent Form G-19F. It will be available for 
downloading from the RRB's Web site at www.rrb.gov. It will collect the 
same information as the approved version but will be fillable and 
printable online. No other changes are proposed.
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Annual           Time           Burden
                            Form No.                                 responses       (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-19-F..........................................................             900               8             120
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    6. Title and Purpose of information collection: Designation of 
Contact Officials; 3220-0200. Coordination between railroad employers 
and the RRB is essential to properly administer the payment of benefits 
under the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) and the Railroad Unemployment 
Insurance Act (RUIA). In order to enhance timely coordination activity, 
the RRB utilizes Form G-117A, Designation of Contact Officials. Form G-
117A is used by railroad employers to designate employees who are to 
act as point of contact with the RRB on a variety of RRA and RUIA-
related matters.
    Completion is voluntary. One response is requested from each 
respondent.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (81 FR 89522 on December 12, 2016) required by 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Designation of Contact Officials.
    OMB Control Number: 3220-0200.
    Form(s) submitted: G-117A.
    Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected public: Private Sector; Businesses or other for profits.
    Abstract: The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) requests that 
railroad employers designate employees to act as liaison with the RRB 
on a variety of Railroad Retirement Act and Railroad Unemployment 
Insurance Act matters.
    Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no revisions to Form G-117A.
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Annual           Time           Burden
                            Form No.                                 responses       (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-117A..........................................................             100              15              25
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additional Information or Comments: Copies of the forms and 
supporting documents can be obtained from Dana Hickman at (312) 751-
4981 or [email protected].
    Comments regarding the information collection should be addressed 
to Brian Foster, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, 
Chicago, Illinois 60611-1275 or emailed to [email protected]. and to 
the OMB Desk Officer for the RRB, Fax: 202-395-6974, Email

[[Page 11666]]

address: [email protected].

Brian D. Foster,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-03578 Filed 2-23-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P