[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 144 (Friday, July 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43480-43481]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17068]
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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD
Proposed Data Collection Available for Public Comment and
Recommendations
SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of
the Paperwork Reduction Act of l995 which provides opportunity for
public comment on new or revised data collections, the Railroad
Retirement Board 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:
RUIA Claims Notification and Verification System: OMB 3220-0171.
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 base-year 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 ID-4K, 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 ID-4K 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 ID-4K
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 ID-4K, provides
the required notification by the RRB through the RRB's Internet-based
Employer Reporting System (ERS). Completion is voluntary.
Railroad employers can respond to RRB notices of applications and
claims manually by mailing a completed ID-4K back to the RRB or
electronically via EDI or the ERS. No changes are being proposed to any
of the ID-4K options.
Upon receipt of notice that the RRB has allowed a claim either in
whole, or in part, the claimant's base-year 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 ID-4DE,
Notice of RUIA Claim Determinations, an Electronic Data Interchange
(EDI) version of the Form Letter ID-4K notice and an Internet
equivalent ID-4E to notify base-year 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 ID-4E is mailed on a daily basis,
generally on the same day that the claims are approved for payment. The
EDI and Internet-equivalent ID-4Es 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 ID-4E by
mail, EDI, or via the Internet. No changes are being proposed to any of
the ID-4E options. Completion is voluntary.
The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows:
Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden
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Annual
Form number responses Time (min) Burden hours
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ID-4K (Manual).................................................. 1,250 2 42
ID-4K (EDI)..................................................... 14,850 ** 210
ID-4K (Internet)................................................ 2,500 2 83
ID-4E (Manual).................................................. 75 2 3
ID-4E (Internet)................................................ 25 2 1
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Total....................................................... 18,700 .............. 339
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** 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: 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.
Charles Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-17068 Filed 7-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P