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

Evidence for application of Overall Minimum: OMB 3220-0083 Under

Section 3(f)(3) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), the total monthly

benefits payable to a railroad employee and his/her family are

guaranteed to be no less than the amount which would be payable if the

employee's railroad service has been covered by the Social Security

Administration. The Social Security Overall Minimum Guarantee is

prescribed in 20 CFR 229. To administer this provision, the Railroad

Retirement Board (RRB) requires information about a retired employee's

spouse and child(ren) who would not be eligible for benefits under the

RRA but would be eligible for benefits under the Social Security Act if

the employee's railroad service had been covered by that Act. The RRB

obtains the required information by the use of forms G-319 (Statement

Regarding Family and Earnings for Special Guaranty Computation) and G-

320 (Statement by Employee Annuitant Regarding Student Age 18-19). One

form is completed by each respondent. Form G-319 is being revised to

request information regarding a student's earnings and entitlement to

other benefits. Reformatting, editorial and cosmetic revisions are also

being proposed to Form G-319. Reformatting, and editorial revisions

(including the deletion of information items requested on the proposed

G-319) are proposed to Form G-320.

Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden

The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows:

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

Annual Burden

Form#(s) responses Time (Min) (Hrs)

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

G-319

Employee Completed:

With assistance.............. 95 26 41

Without assistance........... 5 55 5

Spouse completed:

With assistance.............. 95 30 48

Without assistance........... 5 60 5

G-320

With assistance.................. 86 10 14

Without assistance............... 4 26 2

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

Total........................ 290 ........... 115

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 Baord, 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. 99-5841 Filed 3-9-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7905-01-M