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 30786]]

Title and Purpose of information collection: Statement Regarding

Contributions and Support of Children, Proposed RRB Form G-139.

Section 2(d)(4) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), provides, in

part, that a child is deemed dependent if the conditions set forth in

Section 202(d) (3), (4) and (9) of the Social Security Act are met. In

accordance with amendments to the Social Security Act (section 104 of

Public Law 104-21) the RRB amended its regulations to eliminate the

``living-with'' requirement (as an alternative to actual dependency) as

a basis for eligibility for an annuity as the stepchild of a railroad

employee, and also to provide for the termination of the inclusion of a

stepchild in the computation of the social security overall minimum

guarantee provision when the stepparent's marriage to the natural

parent is terminated.

The regulations outlining child support and dependency requirements

are prescribed in 20 CFR 222.50.

Prior to the amendments to the Social Security Act, almost all

child dependency determinations were ``deemed'' based on a child living

with the railroad employee. To determine entitlement based on actual

dependency, the RRB must solicit financial information regarding a

child's means of support. A comparison is then made between the amount

of support received from the railroad employee and the amount received

from other sources.

The RRB proposes to use Form G-139, Statement Regarding

Contributions and Support of Children, to collect information needed to

adequately determine if the child meets the dependency requirement.

Completion will be required to obtain a benefit. One response is

required of each respondent.

The RRB estimates that 1,000 Form G-139's will be completed

annually. The completion time is estimated at 15 minutes.

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 N. Rush

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

received within 60 days of this notice.

Chuck Mierzwa,

Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 98-14897 Filed 6-4-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7905-01-M