[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 3 (Monday, January 6, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 676-677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-31502]
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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: Public Service
Pension Questionnaires; OMB 3220-0136.
Public Law 95-216 amended the Social Security Act of 1977 by
providing, in part, that spouse or survivor benefits may be reduced
when the beneficiary is in receipt of a pension based on employment
with a Federal, State, or local governmental unit. Initially, the
reduction was equal to the full amount of the government pension.
Public Law 98-21 changed the reduction to two-thirds of the amount
of the government pension. Public Law 108-203 amended the Social
Security Act by changing the requirement for exemption to public
service offset, that Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes
be deducted from the public service wages for the last 60 months of
public service employment, rather than just the last day of public
service employment.
Sections 4(a)(1) and 4(f)(1) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA)
provides that a spouse or survivor annuity should be equal in amount to
what the annuitant would receive if entitled to a like benefit from the
Social Security Administration. Therefore, the public service pension
(PSP) provisions apply to RRA annuities. RRB regulations pertaining to
the collection of evidence relating to public service pensions or
worker's compensation paid to spouse or survivor applicants or
annuitants are found in 20 CFR 219.64c.
The RRB utilizes Form G-208, Public Service Pension Questionnaire,
and Form G-212, Public Service Monitoring Questionnaire, to obtain
information used to determine whether an annuity reduction is in order.
Completion of the forms is voluntary. However, failure to complete the
forms could result in the nonpayment of benefits. One response is
requested of each respondent. The RRB proposes no changes to the forms
in the collection.
Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden
[The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows]
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Annual Time Burden
Form No. responses (minutes) (hours)
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G-208........................................................... 70 16 19.0
G-212........................................................... 1,100 15 275.0
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Total....................................................... 1,170 .............. 294.0
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2. Title and purpose of information collection: Report of Medicaid
State Office on Beneficiary's Buy-In Status; OMB 3220-0185.
Under Section 7(d) of the Railroad Retirement Act, the RRB
administers the
[[Page 677]]
Medicare program for persons covered by the railroad retirement system.
Under Section 1843 of the Social Security Act, states may enter into
``buy-in agreements'' with the Secretary of Health and Human Services
for the purpose of enrolling certain groups of low-income individuals
under the Medicare medical insurance (Part B) program and paying the
premiums for their insurance coverage. Generally, these individuals are
categorically needy under Medicaid and meet the eligibility
requirements for Medicare Part B. States can also include in their buy-
in agreements, individuals who are eligible for medical assistance
only. The RRB uses Form RL-380-F, Report to State Medicaid Office, to
obtain information needed to determine if certain railroad
beneficiaries are entitled to receive Supplementary Medical Insurance
program coverage under a state buy-in agreement in states in which they
reside. Completion of Form RL-380-F is voluntary. One response is
received from each respondent. The RRB proposes no changes to Form RL-
380-F.
Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden
[The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows]
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Annual Time Burden
Form No. responses (minutes) (hours)
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RL-380-F........................................................ 600 10 100
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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, 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. 2013-31502 Filed 1-3-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P