[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 67 (Monday, April 10, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 17298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07068]



[[Page 17298]]

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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.
    Title and purpose of information collection: Continuing Disability 
Report; OMB 3220-0187. Under Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act, 
an annuity is not payable or is reduced for any month in which the 
annuitant works for a railroad or earns more than prescribed dollar 
amounts from either non-railroad employment or self-employment. Certain 
types of work may indicate an annuitant's recovery from disability. The 
provisions relating to the reduction or non-payment of an annuity by 
reason of work, and an annuitant's recovery from disability for work, 
are prescribed in 20 CFR 220.17-220.20. The RRB conducts continuing 
disability reviews (CDR) to determine whether an annuitant continues to 
meet the disability requirements of the law. Provisions relating to 
when and how often the RRB conducts CDR's are prescribed in 20 CFR 
220.186.
    Form G-254, Continuing Disability Report, is used by the RRB to 
develop information for a CDR determination, including a determination 
prompted by a report of work, return to railroad service, allegation of 
medical improvement, or a routine disability review call-up. Form G-
254a, Continuing Disability Update Report, is used to help identify a 
disability annuitant whose work activity and/or recent medical history 
warrants completion of Form G-254 for a more extensive review.
    Completion is required to retain a benefit. One response is 
requested of each respondent to Forms G-254 and G-254a.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (82 FR 8961 on February 1, 2017) required by 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Continuing Disability Report.
    OMB Control Number: 3220-0187.
    Forms Submitted: G-254 and G-254a.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Abstract: Under the Railroad Retirement Act, a disability annuity 
can be reduced or not paid, depending on the amount of earnings and 
type of work performed. The collection obtains information about a 
disabled annuitant's employment and earnings.
    Changes proposed: The RRB proposes the following changes:
    Significant changes are proposed to Form G-254 in support of the 
RRB's Disability Program Improvement Project (DPIP) to enhance/improve 
disability case processing and overall program integrity as recommended 
by the RRB's Office of Inspector General and the Government 
Accountability Office. Proposed revisions/additions include:
     Providing, in Item 31a, more descriptive labels (Easy, 
Difficult, Hard, Not at All, and N.A.) to help identify the applicant's 
ability to perform an activity.
    [cir] Requesting information on four new activity items (Sitting, 
Standing, Reading, and Writing), to be consistent with other RRB 
disability forms.
     New Item 31b, which requests the applicant to provide 
additional information about their daily activities.
     Requesting, in Item 31d, when a disability annuitant uses 
an assistive device (wheelchair, cane, etc.).
     Minor, non-burden impacting editorial and formatting 
changes.
    The RRB also proposes the addition of new Form RL-8A, Occupational 
Disability Certification, which the RRB will use to annually monitor 
occupational disability annuitants who meet certain criteria. The form 
will require that the annuitant certify that they are still disabled in 
order to continue receiving their occupational disability annuities. 
Form RL-8 will be used to transmit the Form RL-8A. The Paperwork 
Reduction Act and Privacy Act Notices are on Form RL-8A.
    The RRB proposes no changes to Form G-254a.
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Annual           Time           Burden
                            Form No.                                 responses       (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-254...........................................................           1,500            5-35             623
G-254A..........................................................           1,500               5             125
RL-8A...........................................................             400              15             100
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................           3,400  ..............             848
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    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].

    For the Board.
Martha P. Rico,
Secretary to the Board.
[FR Doc. 2017-07068 Filed 4-7-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7905-01-P