[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 6, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66786-66788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-26538]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
1. Title and purpose of information collection: Placement Service;
OMB 3220-0057.
Section 12(i) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA),
authorizes the RRB to establish, maintain, and operate free employment
offices to provide claimants for unemployment benefits with job
placement opportunities. Section 704(d) of the Regional Railroad
Reorganization Act of 1973, as amended, and as extended by the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, required the
RRB to maintain and distribute a list of railroad job vacancies, by
class and craft, based on information furnished by rail carriers to the
RRB. Although the requirement under the law expired effective August
13, 1987, the RRB has continued to obtain this information in keeping
with its employment service responsibilities under Section 12(k) of the
RUIA. Application procedures for the job placement program are
prescribed in 20 CFR part 325. The procedures pertaining to the RRB's
obtaining and distributing job vacancy reports furnished by rail
carriers are described in 20 CFR 346.1.
The RRB currently utilizes four forms to obtain information needed
to carry out its job placement responsibilities. Form ES-2, Central
Register Notification, is used by the RRB to obtain information needed
to update a computerized central register of separated and furloughed
railroad employees available for employment in the railroad industry.
Forms ES-21, Referral to State Employment Service, and ES-21c, Report
of State Employment Service Office, are used by the RRB to provide
placement assistance for unemployed railroad employees through
arrangements with State Employment Service offices. Form UI-35, Field
Office Record of Claimant Interview, is used primarily by RRB field
office staff to conduct in-person interviews of claimants for
unemployment benefits. Completion of these forms is required to obtain
or maintain a benefit. In addition, the RRB also collects Railroad Job
Vacancies information received voluntarily from railroad employers. No
changes are proposed to any of the data collection instruments
associated with the information collection.
Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden
[The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual
Form No. responses Time (minutes) Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ES-2...................................................... 7,500 .25 31
ES-21..................................................... 3,500 .68 40
ES-21c.................................................... 1,250 1.50 31
[[Page 66787]]
*UI-35 in person.......................................... 9,000 7.00 1,050
*UI-35 by mail............................................ 1,000 10.50 175
Job Vacancies............................................. 750 10.00 125
-----------------------------------------------------
Total................................................. 23,000 ................ 1,452
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Title and purpose of information collection: Withholding
Certificate for Railroad Retirement Monthly Annuity Payments; OMB 3220-
0149.
The Internal Revenue Code requires that all payers of tax liable
private pensions to U.S. citizens or residents: (1) Notify each
recipient at least concurrent with initial withholding that the payer
is, in fact, withholding benefits for tax liability and that the
recipient has the option of electing not to have the payer withhold, or
to withhold at a specific rate; (2) withhold benefits for tax purposes
(in the absence of the recipient's election not to withhold benefits);
and (3) notify all beneficiaries, at least annually, that they have the
option to change their withholding status or elect not to have benefits
withheld.
The RRB provides Form RRB-W4P, Withholding Certificate for Railroad
Retirement Payments, to its annuitants to exercise their withholding
options. Completion of the form is required to obtain or retain a
benefit. One response is requested of each respondent. No changes are
proposed to Form RRB W-4P.
The RRB estimates that 25,000 annuitants utilize Form RRB W-4P
annually. The completion time for Form RRB W-4P varies depending on
individual circumstances. The estimated average completion time for
Form RRB W-4P is 39 minutes for recordkeeping, 24 minutes for learning
about the law or the form, and 59 minutes for preparing the form.
3. Title and purpose of information collection: Investigation of
Claim for Possible Days of Employment; OMB 3220-0196.
Under Section 1(k) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act
(RUIA), unemployment and sickness benefits are not payable for any day
remuneration is payable or accrues to the claimant. Also Section 4(a-1)
of the RUIA provides that unemployment or sickness benefits are not
payable for any day the claimant receives the same benefits under any
law other than the RUIA. Under the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)
regulation 20 CFR 322.4(a), a claimant's certification or statement on
an RRB-provided claim form that he or she did not work on any day
claimed and did not receive income such as vacation pay or pay for time
lost for any day claimed is sufficient evidence unless there is
conflicting evidence. Further, under 20 CFR 322.4(b), when there is a
question raised as to whether or not remuneration is payable or has
accrued to a claimant with respect to a claimed day or days,
investigation shall be made with a view to obtaining information
sufficient for a finding.
Form ID-5S (SUP), Report of Cases for Which All Days Were Claimed
During a Month Credited Per an Adjustment Report, collects information
about compensation credited to an employee during a period when the
employee claimed either unemployment or sickness benefits from a
railroad employer. The request is generated as a result of a computer
match that compares data which is maintained in the RRB's RUIA Benefit
Payment file with data maintained in the RRB's records of service. The
ID-5S (SUP) is generated annually when the computer match indicates
that an employee of the railroad employer was paid unemployment or
sickness benefits for every day in one or more months for which
creditable compensation was adjusted at the request of their railroad
employer on RRB Form BA-4 (OMB Approved 3220-0008).
The computer-generated Form ID-5S (SUP) includes pertinent
identifying information, the BA-4 adjustment process date, and the
claimed months in question. Space is provided on the report for the
employer's use in supplying the information requested in the computer-
generated transmittal letter, Form ID-5S, Railroad Compensation
Adjustment Discrepancy Report, which accompanies the report. Completion
time is estimated at 10 minutes. One response is requested of each
respondent. The RRB proposes no changes to Form ID-5S(SUP).
Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden
[The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual
Form No. responses Time (minutes) Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ID-5S (SUP)............................................... 55 10 9
-----------------------------------------------------
Total................................................. 55 ................ 9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Title and purpose of information collection: Designation of
Contact Officials; 3220-0200.
Coordination between railroad employers and the RRB is essential to
properly administer the payment of benefits under the Railroad
Retirement Act (RRA) and the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act
(RUIA). In order to enhance timely coordination activity, the RRB
utilizes Form G-117a, Designation of Contact Officials. Form G-117a is
used by railroad employers to designate employees who are to act as
point of contact with the RRB on a variety of RRA and RUIA-related
matters.
Completion is voluntary. One response is requested from each
respondent. The RRB proposes no changes to Form G-117a.
[[Page 66788]]
Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden
[The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual
Form No. responses Time (minutes) Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-117a.................................................... 100 15 25
-----------------------------------------------------
Total................................................. 100 ................ 25
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional Information or Comments: To request more information or
to obtain a copy of the information collection justification, forms,
and/or supporting material, contact Dana Hickman at (312) 751-4981 or
[email protected]. Comments regarding the information collection
should be addressed to Charles Mierzwa, Railroad Retirement Board, 844
North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092 or emailed to
[email protected]. Written comments should be received within 60
days of this notice.
Charles Mierzwa,
Chief of Information Resources Management.
[FR Doc. 2013-26538 Filed 11-5-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P