[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 181 (Wednesday, September 18, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 49127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20125]


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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    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.
    Title and purpose of information collection: Medical Reports; OMB 
3220-0038.
    Under sections 2(a)(1)(iv) and 2(a)(1)(v) of the Railroad 
Retirement Act (RRA) (45 U.S.C. 231a), annuities are payable to 
qualified railroad employees whose physical or mental condition makes 
them unable to (1) work in their regular occupation (occupational 
disability) or (2) work at all (total disability). The requirements for 
establishing disability and proof of continuing disability under the 
RRA are prescribed in 20 CFR 220.
    Annuities are also payable to (1) qualified spouses and widow(ers) 
under sections 2(c)(1)(ii)(C) and 2(d)(1)(ii) of the RRA who have a 
qualifying child who became disabled before age 22; (2) surviving 
children on the basis of disability under section 2(d)(1)(iii)(C), if 
the child's disability began before age 22; and (3) widow(er)s on the 
basis of disability under section 2(d)(1)(i)(B). To meet the disability 
standard, the RRA provides that individuals must have a permanent 
physical or mental condition that makes them unable to engage in any 
regular employment.
    Under section 2(d)(1)(v) of the RRA, annuities are also payable to 
remarried widow(er)s and surviving divorced spouses on the basis of, 
among other things, disability or having a qualifying disabled child in 
care. However, the disability standard in these cases is that found in 
the Social Security Act. That is, individuals must be unable to engage 
in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically 
determinable physical or mental impairment. The RRB also determines 
entitlement to a Period of Disability and entitlement to early Medicare 
based on disability for qualified claimants in accordance with Section 
216 of the Social Security Act.
    When making disability determinations, the RRB needs evidence from 
acceptable medical sources. The RRB currently utilizes Forms G-3EMP, 
Report of Medical Condition by Employer; G-197, Authorization to 
Disclose Information to the Railroad Retirement Board; G-250, Medical 
Assessment; G-250A, Medical Assessment of Residual Functional Capacity; 
G-260, Report of Seizure Disorder; RL-11B, Disclosure of Hospital 
Medical Records; RL-11D, Disclosure of Medical Records from a State 
Agency; RL-11D1, Request for Medical Evidence from Employers, and RL-
250, Request for Medical Assessment, to obtain the necessary medical 
evidence. One response is requested of each respondent. Completion is 
required for all forms to obtain benefits except Form RL-11D1, which is 
voluntary. The RRB proposes minor non-burden revisions to all forms, 
except Form RL-11D1.

                                      Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden
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                                                                      Annual
                            Form No.                                 responses    Time (minutes)  Burden (hours)
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G-3EMP..........................................................             600              10             100
G-197...........................................................           6,000              10           1,000
G-250...........................................................          11,950              30           5,975
G-250A..........................................................              50              20              17
G-260...........................................................             100              25              42
RL-11B..........................................................           5,000              10             833
RL-11D..........................................................             250              10              42
RL-11D1.........................................................             600              20             200
RL-250..........................................................          11,950              10           1,992
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................          36,500  ..............          10,201
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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 Kennisha Tucker at (312) 469-2591 
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]. Written comments should be received within 60 
days of this notice.

Brian Foster,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2019-20125 Filed 9-17-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7905-01-P