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

Self-Employment and Substantial Service Questionnaire; OMB 3220-0138

Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) 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. A disability applicant must give up all railroad work,

but does not have to relinquish rights to return to railroad work until

he or she attains age 65, or, if earlier, a spouse annuity or

supplemental annuity becomes payable. Under the 1988 amendments to the

RRA, an applicant is no longer required to stop work for a ``Last Pre-

Retirement Nonrailroad Employer'' (LPE). LPE is the last person,

company or institution with whom an employee or spouse applicant's last

railroad employment and before their annuity beginning date. 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

a ``LPE'' employer.

The RRB utilizes Form AA-4, Self-Employment and Substantial Service

Questionnaire to obtain information needed to determine if the

applicant's work is LPE, railroad service or self-employment. If the

work is self-employment, the questionnaire

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identifies any months in which the applicant did not perform

substantial service. One response is requested of each respondent.

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

result in the nonpayment of benefits.

The RRB proposes to revise Form AA-4 to add language required by

the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Minor nonburden impacting changes

are also proposed. The completion time for the AA-4 is estimated at

between 40 and 70 minutes. The RRB estimates that approximately 1,500

AA-4'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. 97-28066 Filed 10-22-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7905-01-M