73 FR 12 pgs. 3292-3293 - Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments

Type: NOTICEVolume: 73Number: 12Pages: 3292 - 3293
FR document: [FR Doc. E8-734 Filed 1-16-08; 8:45 am]
Agency: Railroad Retirement Board
Official PDF Version:  PDF Version

RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD

Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to request a revision to a currently approved collection of information: 3220-0127, Financial Disclosure Statement. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and approval by OIRA ensures that we impose appropriate paperwork burdens.

The RRB invites comments on the proposed collection of information to determine (1) the practical utility of the collection; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden of the collection; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information that is the subject of collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of collections on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments to RRB or OIRA must contain the OMB control number of the ICR. For proper consideration of your comments, it is best if RRB and OIRA receive them within 30 days of publication date.

Under section 10 of the Railroad Retirement Act and section 2(d) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, the RRB may recover overpayments of annuities, pensions, death benefits, unemployment benefits, and sickness benefits that were made erroneously. An overpayment may be waived if the beneficiary was not at fault in causing the overpayment and recovery would cause financial hardship. The regulations for the recovery and waiver of erroneous payments are contained in 20 CFR 255 and CFR 340.

The RRB utilizes Form DR-423, Financial Disclosure Statement, to obtain information about the overpaid beneficiary's income, debts, and expenses if that person indicates that (s)he cannot make restitution for the overpayment. The information is used to determine if the overpayment should be waived as wholly or partially uncollectible. If waiver is denied, the information is used to determine the size and frequency of installment payments. The beneficiary is made aware of the overpayment by letter and is offered a variety of methods for recovery. One response is requested of each respondent. Completion is voluntary. However, failure to provide the requested information may result in a denial of the waiver request.

Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the initial 60-day notice (72 FR 61192 on October 29, 2007) required by 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

Title: Financial Disclosure Statement.

OMB Control Number: 3220-0127.

Form(s) submitted: DR-423.

Type of request: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Affected public: Individuals or Households.

Abstract: Under the Railroad Retirement and the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Acts, the Railroad Retirement Board has authority to secure from an overpaid beneficiary a statement of the individual's assets and liabilities if waiver of the overpayment is requested.

Changes Proposed: The RRB proposes the deletion of items requesting the railroad employee's Social Security Number and their spouse's Social Security Number from Form DR-423. Non-burden impacting formatting and editorial changes are also proposed.

The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

Estimated Completion Time for Form(s): Completion time for Form DR-423 is estimated at 85 minutes.

Estimated annual number of respondents: 1,200.

Total annual responses: 1,200.

Total annual reporting hours: 1,700.

Additional Information or Comments: Copies of the forms and supporting documents can be obtained from Charles Mierzwa, the agency clearance officer (312-751-3363) or Charles.Mierzwa@rrb.gov.

Comments regarding the information collection should be addressed to Ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092 or Ronald.Hodapp@rrb.gov and to the OMB Desk Officer for the RRB, at the Office of Management and Budget, Room 10230, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.

Charles Mierzwa,

Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. E8-734 Filed 1-16-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7905-01-P