Proposed Collection; Comment Request

RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD

Proposed Collection; Comment Request

SUMMARY: 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.

[[Page 23818]]

Title and Purpose of Information Collection

Vocational Report; OMB 3220-0141.

Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) provides for payment

of disability annuities to qualified employees and widow(ers). The

establishment of permanent disability for work in the applicants

``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.

The RRB proposes minor non-burden impacting editorial changes to

Form G-251 which include language required by the Paperwork Reduction

Act of 1995. The completion time for Form G-251 is estimated at between

thirty and 40 minutes per response. The RRB estimates that

approximately 6,000 Form G-251's are completed annually.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: To request more information or to

obtain a copy of the information collection justification, forms, and/

or supporting material, please call the RRB Clearance Officer at (312)

751-3363. Comments regarding the information collection should be

addressed to Ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North

Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092. Written comments should be

received within 60 days of this notice.

Chuck Mierzwa,

Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 97-11283 Filed 4-30-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7905-01-M