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 released 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:

Medical Reports: OMB 3220-0038.

Under sections 2(a)(1)(iv), 2(a)(2) and 2(a)(3) of the Railroad

Retirement Act (RRA), annuities are payable to qualified railroad

employees whose physical or mental condition is such they are unable to

(1) work in their regular occupation (occupational disability); or (2)

work at all (permanent total disability). The requirements for

establishment of disability and proof of continuance of disability are

prescribed in 20 CFR 220.

Under sections 2(c) and 2(d) of the RRA, annuities are also payable

to qualified spouses, widow(ers) who have in their care a qualified

child who is under a disability which began before age 22; widow(ers)

age 50-59 who are under a disability; and remarried widows and

surviving divorced wives who would also be entitled under section

202(e) and 202(f) of the Social Security Act. For entitlement under

section 2(c), 2(d)(i), and 2(d)(iii) of the RRA, an individual is

disabled if he/she is unable to engage in any regular employment. For

entitlement under section 2(d)(v) of the RRA, the individual must have

an impairment which is so severe that, in accordance with the

regulations of the Social Security Administration, any gainful activity

would be precluded. The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) also determines

entitlement to a period of disability or early Medicare entitlement for

qualified claimants.

To enable the RRB to determine the eligibility of an applicant or

annuitant for disability benefits under the RRA, the RRB requests

supportive medical evidence from railroad employers, personal

physicians, private hospitals and state agencies. The RRB currently

utilizes Forms G-3EMP, G-250, G-250a, G-260, GL-12, RL-11b and RL-11d

to obtain the necessary medical evidence. Completion is voluntary. One

response is requested to each respondent

Estimate of Respondent Burden

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Annual Time Burden

Form No. responses (min) (hrs.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

G-3EMP................................... 600 10 100

G-250.................................... 12,000 37 7,4000

G-250a................................... 12,000 20 4,000

G-260.................................... 100 25 42

RL-11b................................... 5,000 10 833

RL-11d................................... 250 10 42

------------------------------

Total................................ 29,950 ....... 12,417

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The RRB proposes to delete Form GL-12 from the collection as it is

no longer required. Minor non-burden impacting editorial changes are

being proposed to the remaining forms in the collection.

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. 99-13406 Filed 5-25-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7905-01-M