[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 59 (Wednesday, March 29, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15545-15546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06146]


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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, 
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 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: Application and 
Claim for Unemployment Benefits and Employment Service; OMB 3220-0022.
    Section 2 of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA), 
provides unemployment benefits for qualified railroad employees. These 
benefits are generally payable for each day of unemployment in excess 
of four during a registration period (normally a period of 14 days).
    Section 12 of the RUIA provides that the RRB establish, maintain 
and operate free employment facilities directed toward the reemployment 
of railroad employees. The procedures for applying for the unemployment 
benefits and employment service and for registering and claiming the 
benefits are prescribed in 20 CFR 325. 20 CFR 321 provides for applying 
and filing claims for unemployment benefits electronically.
    The RRB utilizes the following forms to collect the information 
necessary to pay unemployment benefits. Form UI-1 (or its Internet 
equivalent, Form UI-1 (Internet)), Application for Unemployment 
Benefits and Employment Service, is completed by a claimant for 
unemployment benefits once in a benefit year, at the time of first 
registration. Completion of Form UI-1 or UI-1 (Internet) also registers 
an unemployment claimant for the RRB's employment service.
    The RRB also utilizes Form UI-3 (or its Internet equivalent Form 
UI-3 (Internet)), Claim for Unemployment Benefits, for use in claiming 
unemployment benefits for days of unemployment in a particular 
registration period, normally a period of 14 days.
    Completion of Forms UI-1, UI-1 (Internet), UI-3, and UI-3 
(Internet) is required to obtain or retain benefits. The number of 
responses required of each claimant varies, depending on their period 
of unemployment.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (82 FR 5614 on January 18, 2017) required by 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Application and Claim for Unemployment Benefits and 
Employment Service.
    OMB Control Number: 3220-0022.
    Forms submitted: UI-1, UI-1 (Internet), UI-3, UI-3 (Internet).
    Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected public: Individuals or Households.
    Abstract: Under Section 2 of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance 
Act, unemployment benefits are provided for qualified railroad 
employees. The collection obtains the information needed to determine 
the eligibility to and amount of such benefits for railroad employees.
    Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to the forms in the 
collection.
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Annual
                            Form No.                                 responses    Time (minutes)  Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UI-1............................................................           8,003              10           1,334
UI-1 (Internet).................................................           5,542              10             924
UI-3............................................................          37,584               6           3,758
UI-3 (Internet).................................................          45,011               6           4,501
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................          96,140  ..............          10,517
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. 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 a public service offset, so that Federal 
Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes are 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

[[Page 15546]]

or survivor applicants or annuitants are prescribed 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.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (82 FR 5614 on January 18, 2017) required by 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Public Service Pension Questionnaires.
    OMB Control Number: 3220-0136.
    Forms submitted: G-208 and G-212.
    Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected public: Individuals or Households.
    Abstract: A spouse or survivor annuity under the Railroad 
Retirement Act may be subjected to a reduction for a public service 
pension. The questionnaires obtain information needed to determine if 
the reduction applies and the amount of such reduction.
    Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to the forms in the 
collection.
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Annual
                            Form No.                                 responses    Time (minutes)  Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-208...........................................................              70              16            19.0
G-212...........................................................           1,100              15           275.0
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................           1,170  ..............           294.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. 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 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 utilizes Form RL-380-F, Report of 
Medicaid State Office on Beneficiary's Buy-In Status, 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 the states in which they reside.
    Completion of Form RL-380-F is voluntary. One response is received 
from each respondent.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (82 FR 5614 on January 18, 2017) required by 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Report of Medicaid State Office on Beneficiary's Buy-In 
Status.
    OMB Control Number: 3220-0185.
    Forms submitted: RL-380-F.
    Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.
    Abstract: Under the Railroad Retirement Act, the Railroad 
Retirement Board administers the Medicare program for persons covered 
by the railroad retirement system. The collection obtains the 
information needed to determine if certain railroad beneficiaries are 
entitled to receive Supplemental Medical Insurance program coverage 
under a state buy-in agreement in states in which they reside.
    Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to Form RL-380-F.
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Annual
                           Form No.                               responses      Time (minutes)   Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RL-380-F.....................................................             600               10              100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 [email protected] and to the OMB 
Desk Officer for the RRB, Fax: 202-395-6974, Email address: 
[email protected].

Martha P. Rico,
Secretary to the Board.
[FR Doc. 2017-06146 Filed 3-28-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7905-01-P