[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 1931]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-795]


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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

    Application and Claim for Unemployment Benefits and Employment 
Service, OMB 3220-0022.
    Section 2 of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA), 
provides unemployment benefits for qualified railroad employees. These 
benefits are generally payable for each day of unemployment in excess 
of four during a registration period (normally a period of 14 days). 
Section 12 of the RUIA provides that the RRB establish, maintain and 
operate free employment facilities directed toward the reemployment of 
railroad employees. The procedures for applying for the unemployment 
benefits and employment service and for registering and claiming the 
benefits are prescribed in 20 CFR 325.
    RRB Form UI-1, Application for Unemployment Benefits, and 
Employment Service, is completed by a claimant for unemployment 
benefits once in a benefit year, at the time of first registration. 
Completion of Form UI-1 also registers an unemployment claimant for the 
RRB's employment service. No changes are being proposed to Form UI-1.
    The RRB also utilizes Form UI-3, Claim for Unemployment Benefits, 
for use in claiming unemployment benefits for days of unemployment in a 
particular registration period, normally a period of 14 days. The RRB 
proposes to revise Form UI-3 to incorporate changes required by the 
Railroad Unemployment Insurance Amendments Act of 1996. The changes 
include the addition of a new item to provide the RRB with information 
regarding a claimant's gross wages or other pay for days during the 14-
day registration period. Effective with the 1996 amendments, an 
earnings test applies to each 14-day claim period and information about 
the claimant's gross wages or other pay is needed to determine the 
claimant's eligibility for benefits. The explanation of the waiting 
period printed on the claim has also been revised because the 1996 
amendments changed the waiting period requirement from 14 days to 7 
days.
    Completion of Forms UI-1 and UI-3 is required to obtain or retain 
benefits. The number of responses required to each claimant varies, 
depending on their period of unemployment. The RRB estimates that 
approximately 29,000 Form UI-1's are filed annually. Completion time is 
estimated at 10 minutes. The RRB estimates that approximately 265,000 
Form UI-3's are filed annually. Completion time is estimated at 6 
minutes.

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. 97-795 Filed 1-13-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-M