Summary: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is forwarding 3 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), 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 (78 FR 70358 on November 25, 2013) 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:
Form No. | Annual responses | Time (minutes) | Burden (hours) |
---|---|---|---|
UI-45 | 200 | 15 | 50 |
2. Title and purpose of information collection: Railroad Separation Allowance or Severance Pay Report; OMB 3220-0173.
Section 6 of the Railroad Retirement Act provides for a lump-sum payment to an employee or the employee's survivors equal to the Tier II taxes paid by the employee on a separation allowance or severance payment for which the employee did not receive credits toward retirement. The lump-sum is not payable until retirement benefits begin to accrue or the employee dies. Also, Section 4 (a-1)(iii) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act provides that a railroad employee who is paid a separation allowance is disqualified for unemployment and sickness benefits for the period of time the employee would have to work to earn the amount of the allowance. The reporting requirements are specified in 20 CFR 209.14.
In order to calculate and provide payments, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) must collect and maintain records of separation allowances and severance payments which were subject to Tier II taxation from railroad employers. The RRB uses Form BA-9, Report of Separation Allowance or Severance Pay, to obtain information from railroad employers concerning the separation allowances and severance payments made to railroad employees and/or the survivors of railroad employees. Employers currently have the option of submitting their reports on paper Form BA-9 (or in like format) on a CD-ROM disk, or by File Transfer Protocol (FTP), or secure Email. Completion is mandatory. One response is requested of each respondent.
Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the initial 60-day notice (78 FR 70358 on November 25, 2013) required by 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Railroad Separation Allowance or Severance Pay Report.
OMB Control Number: 3220-0173.
Form(s) submitted: BA-9.
Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved collection.
Affected public: Private Sector; Businesses or other for profits.
Abstract: Section 6 of the Railroad Retirement Act provides for a lump-sum payment to an employee or the employee's survivor equal to the Tier II taxes paid by the employee on a separation allowance or severance payment for which the employee did not receive credits toward retirement. The collection obtains information concerning the separation allowances and severance payments paid from railroad employers.
Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to Form BA-9.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
Form No. | Annual responses | Time (minutes) | Burden (hours) |
---|---|---|---|
BA-9 (paper) | 265 | 76 | 336 |
BA-9 (CD-ROM) | 60 | 76 | 76 |
BA-9 (secure Email) | 25 | 76 | 32 |
BA-9 (FTP) | 10 | 76 | 13 |
Total | 360 | 457 |
3. 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. 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 (78 FR 70359 on November 25, 2013) 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: Extension without change 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 to revise the G-19-F to allow the claimant who has not stopped working to indicate if they will stop working within 90 days.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
Form No. | Annual responses | Time (minutes) | Burden (hours) |
---|---|---|---|
G-19-F | 900 | 8 | 120 |
Additional Information or Comments: Copies of the forms and supporting documents can be obtained from Dana Hickman at (312) 751-4981 or Dana.Hickman@RRB.GOV.
Comments regarding the information collection should be addressed to Charles Mierzwa, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60611-2092 or Charles.Mierzwa@RRB.GOV and to the OMB Desk Officer for the RRB, Fax: 202-395-6974, Email address: OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov.
Charles Mierzwa,
Chief of Information Resources Management.
[FR Doc. 2014-02805 Filed 2-7-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P