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.

1. Title and purpose of information collection: Statement Regarding Contributions and Support; OMB 3220–0099.

Under section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act (45 U.S.C. 231a), dependency on an employee for one-half support at the time of the employee's death can affect (1) entitlement to a survivor annuity when the survivor is a parent of the deceased employee; (2) the amount of spouse and survivor annuities; and (3) the Tier II restored amount payable to a widow(er) whose annuity was reduced for receipt of an employee annuity, and who was dependent on the railroad employee in the year prior to the employee's death. One-half support may also negate the public service pension offset in Tier I for a spouse or widow(er). The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) utilizes Form G–134, Statement Regarding Contributions and Support, to secure information needed to adequately determine if the applicant meets the one-half support requirement. One response is completed by each respondent. Completion is required to obtain benefits. The RRB proposes a minor editorial changes to Form G–134 to change the date under section 1 “General Instructions”.

2. Title and purpose of information collection: Financial Disclosure Statement; OMB 3220–0127.

Under section 10 of the Railroad Retirement Act and section 2(d) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (45 U.S.C. 231i), the RRB may recover overpayments of annuities, pensions, death benefits, unemployment benefits, and sickness benefits that were made erroneously. An overpayment may be waived if the beneficiary was not at fault in causing the overpayment and recovery would cause financial hardship. The regulations for the recovery and waiver of erroneous payments are contained in 20 CFR 255 and CFR 340.

The RRB utilizes Form DR–423, Financial Disclosure Statement, to obtain information about the overpaid beneficiary's income, debts, and expenses if that person indicates that (s)he cannot make restitution for the overpayment. The information is used to determine if the overpayment should be waived as wholly or partially uncollectible. If waiver is denied, the information is used to determine the size and frequency of installment payments. The beneficiary is made aware of the overpayment by letter and is offered a variety of methods for recovery. One response is requested of each respondent. Completion is voluntary. However, failure to provide the requested information may result in a denial of the waiver request. The RRB proposes no changes to Form DR–423.

3. Title and purpose of information collection: collection: Representative Payee Monitoring; OMB 3220–0151.

Under section 12 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) (45 U.S.C. 231k), the RRB may pay annuity benefits to a representative payee when an employee, spouse, or survivor annuitant is incompetent or a minor. The RRB is responsible for determining if direct payment to an annuitant or a representative payee would best serve the annuitant's best interest. The accountability requirements authorizing the RRB to conduct periodic monitoring of representative payees, including a written accounting of benefit payments received, are prescribed in 20 CFR 266.7. The RRB utilizes the following forms to conduct its representative payee monitoring program.

Form G–99a, Representative Payee Report, is used to obtain information needed to determine whether the benefit payments certified to the representative payee have been used for the annuitant's current maintenance and personal needs and whether the representative payee continues to be concerned with the annuitant's welfare. RRB Form G–99c, Representative Payee Evaluation Report, is used to obtain more detailed information from a representative payee who fails to complete and return Form G–99a or in situations when the returned Form G–99a indicates the possible misuse of funds by the representative payee. Form G–99c contains specific questions concerning the representative payee's performance and is used by the RRB to determine whether or not the representative payee should continue in that capacity. The RRB proposes no changes to Form G–99a or Form G–99c.

Form G–106, Statement of Care and Responsibility to Annuitant is used in cases where the representative payee does not have custody of the annuitant. Form G–106 is used to solicit information about the representative payee's performance and the annuitant's well-being from the custodian of the annuitant. The form contains specific questions concerning the representative payee's performance and is used by the RRB to determine whether or not the representative payee should continue in that capacity. Completion of the forms in this collection is required to retain benefits.

The RRB proposes the following changes for Form G–106:

• Add a drop-down box `Second Request' at the top of the form to when the RRB needs to follow-up with a Third-Party Custodian who did not respond to the initial request.

4. Title and purpose of information collection: Earnings Information Request; OMB 3220–0184.

Under section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act (45 U.S.C. 231a), 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. Currently 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. The RRB proposes no changes to the Form G–19–F.

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 Money at (312) 469–2591 or Kennisha.Money@rrb.gov. 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 Brian.Foster@rrb.gov. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.