82 FR 8961 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request

RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 20 (February 1, 2017)

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 an annuity by reason 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 an annuitant continues 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 used by the RRB to develop information for a CDR determination, including a determination prompted by a report of work, return to railroad service, allegation of medical improvement, or a routine disability review call-up. The RRB proposes the following changes: Form G-254 is being revised to make non-burden impacting editorial and formatting changes. In addition, significant changes are proposed to Form G-254 in support of the RRB's Disability Program Improvement Project (DPIP) to enhance/improve disability case processing and overall program integrity as recommended by the RRB's Office of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office. Proposed revisions/additions include: <bullet> Providing, in Item 31a, more descriptive labels (Easy, Difficult, Hard, Not at All, and N.A.) to help identify the applicant's ability to perform an activity. [cir] Requesting for information on four new activity items (Sitting, Standing, Reading, and Writing), to be consistent with other RRB disability forms. <bullet> New Item 31b, which requests the applicant to provide additional information about their daily activities. <bullet> Requesting, in Item 31d, when a disability annuitant uses an assistive device (wheelchair, cane, etc.). The RRB also proposes the addition of new Form RL-8A, Occupational Disability Certification, which the RRB will use to annually monitor occupational disability annuitants who meet certain criteria. The form will require that the annuitant certify that they are still disabled in order to continue receiving their occupational disability annuities. Form RL-8 will be used to transmit the Form RL-8A. The Paperwork Reduction Act and Privacy Act Notices are on Form RL-8A. Form G-254a, Continuing Disability Update Report, is used to help identify a disability annuitant whose work activity and/or recent medical history warrants completion of Form G-254 for a more extensive review. The RRB proposes no changes to Form G-254a. Completion is required to retain a benefit. One response is requested of each respondent to Forms G-254 and G-254a.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 20 (Wednesday, February 1, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8961-8962]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-02064]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 an annuity by 
reason 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 an annuitant continues 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 used by the RRB to 
develop information for a CDR determination, including a determination 
prompted by a report of work, return to railroad service, allegation of 
medical improvement, or a routine disability review call-up.
    The RRB proposes the following changes:
    Form G-254 is being revised to make non-burden impacting editorial 
and formatting changes. In addition, significant changes are proposed 
to Form G-254 in support of the RRB's Disability Program Improvement 
Project (DPIP) to enhance/improve disability case processing and 
overall program integrity as recommended by the RRB's Office of 
Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office. Proposed 
revisions/additions include:
     Providing, in Item 31a, more descriptive labels (Easy, 
Difficult, Hard, Not at All, and N.A.) to help identify the applicant's 
ability to perform an activity.
    [cir] Requesting for information on four new activity items 
(Sitting, Standing, Reading, and Writing), to be consistent with other 
RRB disability forms.
     New Item 31b, which requests the applicant to provide 
additional information about their daily activities.
     Requesting, in Item 31d, when a disability annuitant uses 
an assistive device (wheelchair, cane, etc.).
    The RRB also proposes the addition of new Form RL-8A, Occupational 
Disability Certification, which the RRB will use to annually monitor 
occupational disability annuitants who meet certain criteria. The form 
will require that the annuitant certify that they are still disabled in 
order to continue receiving their occupational disability annuities. 
Form RL-8 will be used to transmit the Form RL-8A. The Paperwork 
Reduction Act and Privacy Act Notices are on Form RL-8A.
    Form G-254a, Continuing Disability Update Report, is used to help 
identify a disability annuitant whose work activity and/or recent 
medical history warrants completion of Form G-254 for a more extensive 
review. The RRB proposes no changes to Form G-254a.
    Completion is required to retain a benefit. One response is 
requested of each respondent to Forms G-254 and G-254a.

[[Page 8962]]



                                      Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Annual           Time           Burden
                            Form No.                                 responses       (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-254...........................................................           1,500            5-35             623
G-254A..........................................................           1,500               5             125
RL-8A...........................................................             400              15             100
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................           3,400  ..............             848
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 Brian Foster, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 
North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-1275 or emailed to 
[email protected]. Written comments should be received within 60 
days of this notice.

Brian D. Foster,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-02064 Filed 1-31-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7905-01-P