[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 213 (Thursday, November 2, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 65888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-28182]


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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.

Title and Purpose of Information Collection

Self-Employment and Substantial Service Questionnaire; OMB 3220-0138
    Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) provides for payment 
of annuities to qualified employees and their spouses. In order to 
receive an age and service annuity, Section 2(e)(3) states that an 
applicant must stop all railroad work and give up any rights to return 
to such work. A disability applicant must give up all railroad work, 
but does not have to relinquish rights to return to railroad work until 
he or she attains full retirement age, or, if earlier, a spouse annuity 
or supplemental annuity becomes payable. Under the 1988 amendments to 
the RRA, an applicant is no longer required to stop work for a ``Last 
Pre-Retirement Nonrailroad Employer'' (LPE). LPE is the last person, 
company or institution with whom an employee or spouse applicant was 
employed concurrently with, or after, the applicant's last railroad 
employment and before their annuity beginning date. However, section 
2(f)(6) of the RRA requires that a portion of the employee's Tier II 
benefit and supplemental annuity be deducted for earnings from a 
``LPE'' employer.
    The RRB utilizes Form AA-4, Self-Employment and Substantial Service 
Questionnaire to obtain information needed to determine if the 
applicant's work is LPE, railroad service or self-employment. If the 
work is self-employment, the questionnaire identifies any months in 
which the applicant did not perform substantial service. One response 
is requested of each respondent. Completion is voluntary. However, 
failure to complete the forms could result in the nonpayment of 
benefits.
    The RRB proposes minor nonburden impacting editorial and formatting 
changes to Form AA-4. The completion time for the AA-4 is estimated at 
between 40 and 70 minutes. The RRB estimates that approximately 1,500 
AA-4's are completed annually.

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 Board, 844 North 
Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092. Written comments should be 
received within 60 days of this notice.

Chuck Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-28182 Filed 11-1-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-M