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:

Continuing Disability Report; OMB 3220-0187

Under Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act, an annuity is not

payable or is reduced for any month in which the annuitant works for a

railroad or earns more than prescribed dollar amounts from either non-

railroad employment or self-employment. Certain types of work may

indicate an annuitant's recovery from disability. The provisions

relating to the reduction or non-payment of annuities by reasons of

work and an annuitant's recovery from disability for work are

prescribed in 20 CFR 220.17-220.20. The RRB conducts continuing

disability reviews (CDR) to determine whether annuitants continue to

meet the disability requirements of the law. Provisions relating to

when and how often the RRB conducts CDR's are prescribed in 20 CFR

220.186.

Form G-254, Continuing Disability Report, is currently used by the

RRB to develop information for CDR determinations, including

determinations prompted by a report of work, return to railroad

service, allegations of medical improvement, or routine disability

call-up. The RRB proposes to add a question regarding impairment

related work expenses to the self-employment section of Form G-254.

Editorial changes to the certification statement and other minor

cosmetic changes are also proposed. In addition, the RRB proposes the

addition of a new form to the information collection. Proposed Form G-

254a, Continuing Disability Update Report, will be used to help

identify disability annuitants whose work activity and/or recent

medical history warrants a more extensive review and thus completion of

Form G-254. One response is requested of each respondent to Form G-254

and G-254a. Completion is required to retain a benefit.

Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden

The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows:

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Annual

Form #(s) responses Time (Min) Burden (hrs)

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G-254........................................................ 1,500 5-35 623

G-254a....................................................... 2,000 5 167

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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. 99-6039 Filed 3-10-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7905-01-M