Federal Register: September 25, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 187)
DOCID: fr25se08-82 FR Doc E8-22593
RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD
Railroad Retirement Board
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCID: fr25se08-82
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments
DOCUMENT 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 an extension without change of a currently approved collection of information: 32200171, RUIA Claims Notification System. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and approval by OIRA ensures that we impose appropriate paperwork burdens.
[[Page 55555]]
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.
Section 5(b) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA), requires that effective January 1, 1990, ``when a claim for benefits is filed with the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), the RRB shall provide notice of such claim to the claimant's base year employer or employers and afford such employer or employers an opportunity to submit information relevant to the claim before making an initial determination on the claim. When the RRB initially determines to pay benefits to a claimant under the RUIA, the RRB shall provide notice of such determination to the claimant's baseyear employer or employers.''
The purpose of the RUIA Claims Notification System is to provide to unemployment and sickness claimant's base year employer or current employer, notice of each application and claim for benefits under the RUIA and to provide an opportunity for employers to convey information relevant to the proper adjudication of the claim. Railroad employers receive notice of applications and claims by one of three options. The first option, Form Letter ID4K, is a computer generated form letter notice of all unemployment applications, unemployment claims and sickness claims received from employees of a railroad company on a particular day. Form Letters ID4K are mailed on a daily basis to officials designated by railroad employers. The second option is an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) version of the Form Letter ID4K notice. EDI notices of applications are transmitted to participating railroads on a daily basis, generally on the same day that applications are received. The third option, an Internet equivalent ID4K, provides the required notification by the RRB through the RRB's Internetbased Employer Reporting System (ERS). Completion is voluntary.
Railroad employers can respond to RRB notices of applications and claims manually by mailing a completed ID4K back to the RRB or electronically via EDI or the ERS. No changes are being proposed to any of the ID4K options.
Upon receipt of notice that the RRB has allowed a claim either in whole, or in part, the claimant's baseyear employer(s) may request a review of the determination to pay benefits, if the employers believe the determination is incorrect. The RRB utilizes Form Letter ID4DE, Notice of RUIA Claim Determinations, an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) version of the Form Letter ID4K notice and an Internet equivalent ID4E to notify baseyear employers that the RRB has made a determination to pay benefits and to allow them to request the RRB to review the determination. Form Letter ID4E is mailed on a daily basis, generally on the same day that the claims are approved for payment. The EDI and Internetequivalent ID4E's are also sent to participating railroads on a daily basis, generally on the same day that the claims are approved for payment. Railroad employers can then request that the RRB review the determination either by filing a completed ID4E by mail, EDI, or via the Internet. No changes are being proposed to any of the ID4E options. Completion is voluntary.
Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the
initial 60day notice (73 FR 43480 on July 25, 2008) required by 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: RUIA Claims Notification System.
OMB Control Number: OMB 32200171.
Form(s) submitted: ID4K, ID4K (INTERNET), ID4E, ID4E (INTERNET).
Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved collection of information.
Affected public: Private Sector; Businessorother for profits.
Abstract: Section 5(b) of the RUIA requires that effective January 1, 1990, when a claim for benefits is filed with the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), the RRB shall provide notice of such claim to the claimant's baseyear employer(s) and afford such employer(s) an opportunity to submit information relevant to the claim before making an initial determination on the claim. When the RRB determines to pay benefits to a claimant under the RUIA, the RRB shall provide notice of such determination to the claimant(s) baseyear employer.
Changes Proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to the forms in the collection.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows: Annual Form Number responses Time (min) Burden hours ID4K (Manual).................................................. 1,250 2 42 ID4K (EDI)..................................................... 14,850 ** 210 ID4K (Internet)................................................ 2,500 2 83 ID4E (Manual).................................................. 75 2 3 ID4E (Internet)................................................ 25 2 1
Total....................................................... 18,700 .............. 339 ** The burden for the 5 participating employers who transmit EDI responses is calculated at 10 minutes each per day, 251 workdays a year or 210 total hours of burden.
Additional Information or Comments: Copies of the form and supporting documents can be obtained from Charles Mierzwa, the agency clearance officer at (3127513363) 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, 606112092 or Ronald.Hodapp@rrb.gov and to the OMB
Desk Officer for the RRB, at the Office of Management and Budget, [[Page 55556]]
Room 10230, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503. Charles Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E822593 Filed 92408; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 790501P
SUMMARY:
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals,