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.

Title and purpose of information collection: Public Service Pension

Questionnaires; OMB 3220-0136 Public Law 95-216 amended the Social

Security Act of 1977 by providing, in part, that spouse or survivor

benefits may be reduced when the beneficiary is in receipt of a pension

based on employment with a Federal, State, or local governmental unit.

Initially, the reduction was equal to the full amount of the

government pension. Public Law 98-21, changed the reduction to two-

thirds of the amount of the government pension. Sections 4(a)(1) and

4(f)(1) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) provides that a spouse or

survivor annuity should be equal in amount to what the annuitant would

receive if entitled to a like benefit from the Social Security

Administration. Therefore, the public service pension (PSP) reduction

provision applies to RRA annuities.

Regulations pertaining to the collection of evidence relating to

public service pensions or worker's compensation paid to spouse or

survivor applicants or annuitants are found in 20 CFR 219.64c.

The RRB utilizes Form G-208, Pubic Service Pension Questionnaire,

and Form G-212, Public Service Monitoring Questionnaire, to obtain

information used to determine whether an annuity reduction is in order.

Completion is voluntary. However, failure to complete the forms could

result in the nonpayment of benefits. One response is requested of each

respondent.

The RRB proposes to revise Form G-208 to add an item that requests

the

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effective date of a PSP recipient's next scheduled increase. The

addition of language required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

and minor nonburden impacting editorial and reformatting changes are

also proposed. The RRB also proposes a change to Form G-212 to add an

item requesting the effective date of a PSP recipient's next scheduled

cost-of-living increase. Minor nonburden impacting editorial and

reformatting changes are also proposed. The completion time for the G-

208 is estimated at 10 minutes. The completion time for the G-212 is

estimated at 3 minutes. The RRB estimates that approximately 7,000 G-

208's and 700 G-212'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. 97-19508 Filed 7-23-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7905-01-M