# Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A97-32490

## Record

- **Collection:** Federal Register
- **Document type:** Notice
- **Published:** December 12, 1997
- **Citation:** 62 FR 65452

## Text

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: Application and Claim
for Sickness Insurance Benefits; OMB 3220-0039.
Under Section 2 of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA),
sickness benefits are payable to qualified railroad employees who are
unable to work because of illness or injury. In addition, sickness
benefits are payable to qualified female employees if they are unable
to work, or if working would be injurious, because of pregnancy,
miscarriage or childbirth. Under Section 1(k) of the RUIA, a statement
of sickness with respect to days of sickness of an employee is to be
filed with the RRB within a 10-day period from the first day claimed as
a day of sickness. The RRB's authority for requesting supplemental
medical information is Section 12(I) and 12(n) of the RUIA. The
procedures for claiming sickness benefits and for the RRB to obtain
supplemental medical information needed to determine a claimant's
eligibility for such benefits is prescribed in 20 CFR part 335.
The forms used by the RRB to obtain information needed to determine
eligibility for and the amount of sickness benefits due a claimant
follows: Form SI-1a, Application for Sickness Benefits; Form SI-1b,
Statement of Sickness; Form SI-3, Claim for Sickness Benefits; Form SI-
7, Supplemental Doctor's Statement; Form SI-8, Verification of Medical
Information; Form ID-7h, Non-Entitlement to Sickness Benefits and
Information on Unemployment Benefits; and Form ID-11a, Requesting
Reason for Late Filing of Sickness Benefit. Completion is required to
obtain or retain benefits. One response is requested of each
respondent.
The RRB proposes to revise Form SI-1a to add new items that obtain
information from a sickness claimant who is filing a delayed claim for
benefits and also to reformat and clarify an existing item that
requests wage information. Form SI-3 is being revised to clarify an
existing item that requests wage information and also to modify the
certification statement. Form SI-8 is being revised primarily to
emphasize that a response is needed only if the information provided is
erroneous. Minor editorial changes which include the addition of
language required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 are also
proposed to Forms SI-1b, SI-7, SI-8 and ID-11A.

Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden

The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Time Burden
Form Nos. responses (minutes) (hours)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SI-1a/1b(ee)..................... 27,700 10 4,617
SI-1a/1b(Dr.).................... 27,000 8 3,693
SI-3............................. 181,000 5 15,083
SI-7............................. 33,600 8 4,480
SI-8............................. 50 5 4
ID-7H............................ 50 5 4
ID-11A........................... 800 3 40
--------------------------------------

[[Page 65453]]

Total...................... 270,900 ........... 27,921
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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. 97-32490 Filed 12-11-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-M

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A97-32490. Public record. Not legal advice.