[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 169 (Friday, September 1, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60511-60513]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-18980]


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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD


Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments

    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: Certification 
Regarding Rights to Unemployment Benefits; OMB 3220-0079.
    Under section 4 of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) 
(45 U.S.C. 354), 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 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 (88 FR 41993 on June 28, 2023) 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
                           Form No.                               responses      Time (minutes)   Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UI-45........................................................             200               15               50
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Title and Purpose of information collection: Self-Employment and 
Substantial Service Questionnaire; OMB 3220-0138.
    Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) (45 U.S.C. 231a) 
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

[[Page 60512]]

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 (88 FR 41993 on June 28, 2023) 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 the form AA-4.
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Annual
                            Form No.                                 responses    Time (minutes)  Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AA-4 (With assistance)..........................................           1,109              40             739
AA-4 (Without assistance).......................................              58              70              68
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................           1,167  ..............             807
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Title and purpose of information collection: Vocational Report; 
OMB 3220-0141.
    Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) (45 U.S.C. 231a) 
provides for payment of disability annuities to qualified employees and 
widow(ers). The establishment of permanent disability for work in the 
applicant's ``regular occupation'' or for work in any regular 
employment is prescribed in 20 CFR 220.12 and 220.13 respectively.
    The RRB utilizes Form G-251, Vocational Report, to obtain an 
applicant's work history. This information is used by the RRB to 
determine the effect of a disability on an applicant's ability to work. 
Form G-251 is designed for use with the RRB's disability benefit 
application forms and is provided to all applicants for employee 
disability annuities and to those applicants for a widow(er)'s 
disability annuity who indicate that they have been employed at some 
time.
    Completion 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 (88 FR 41994 on June 28, 2023) required by 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Vocational Report.
    OMB Control Number: 3220-0141.
    Form(s) submitted: G-251.
    Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected public: Individuals or households.
    Abstract: Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act provides for the 
payment of disability annuities to qualified employees and widow(er)s. 
In order to determine the effect of a disability on an annuitant's 
ability to work, the RRB needs the applicant's work history. The 
collection obtains the information needed to determine their ability to 
work.
    Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to Form G-251.
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Annual
                            Form No.                                 responses    Time (minutes)  Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-251 (with assistance).........................................           2,866              40           1,911
G-251 (without assistance)......................................             136              50             113
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................           3,002  ..............           2,024
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. 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.
    Form G-117a (internet), Designation of Contact Officials, is 
available to employers who request access to the form through the RRB's 
Employer Reporting System (ERS). The G-117a (internet) consists of a 
series of screens

[[Page 60513]]

that allows users to view the Contact Officials currently on file for 
the employer. Users will be able to edit and delete existing Contact 
Officials, as well as add new Contact Officials. The screen to edit and 
add Contact Officials collects essentially the same information as the 
approved paper Form G-117a. The internet version provides for the 
required notices and certifications, contains help messages to ensure 
users provide valid contact information, and prevents users from 
deleting Contact Officials without first providing a replacement.
    Completion is voluntary. One response is requested from each 
respondent.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (88 FR 41994 on June 28, 2023) 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 & G-117A (internet).
    Type of request: Revision 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 to change the Form G-117a 
(Paper) by adding updated language in section 12, Signature line. The 
language proposed is, ``The above officials of this employer are 
authorized to serve in the capacities indicated and to act as trusted 
referees for the RRB in accordance with the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-63A guidelines 
for online reporting access.'' The RRB proposes no changes to Form G-
117a (internet).
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Annual
                            Form No.                                 responses    Time (minutes)  Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-117A..........................................................              25              15               6
G-117a (Internet)...............................................             200               5              17
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................             225  ..............              23
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additional Information or Comments: Copies of the forms and 
supporting documents can be obtained from Kennisha Money 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 
[email protected].
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

Brian Foster,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-18980 Filed 8-31-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P