Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Issuing agencies

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 208 (Thursday, October 29, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 208 (Thursday, October 29, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68186-68190]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-22031]


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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

    In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506 (c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork

[[Page 68187]]

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.
    1. 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) (45 
U.S.C. 231), 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. 20 CFR 321 provides for applying 
and filing claims for unemployment benefits electronically.
    The RRB utilizes the following forms to collect the information 
necessary to pay unemployment benefits. Form UI-1 (or its internet 
equivalent, Form UI-1 (internet)), 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 or UI-1 (internet) also registers 
an unemployment claimant for the RRB's employment service.
    The RRB also utilizes Form UI-3 (or its internet equivalent Form 
UI-3 (internet)), 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.
    Completion of Forms UI-1, UI-1(internet), UI-3, and UI-3 (internet) 
is required to obtain or retain benefits. The number of responses 
required of each claimant varies, depending on their period of 
unemployment. The RRB proposes no changes to the Forms UI-1, UI-
1(internet), UI-3 and UI-3 (internet).

                                      Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       Time           Burden
                          Form No.                             Annual responses      (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UI-1........................................................               3,546              10             591
UI-1 (Internet).............................................              15,662              10           2,610
UI-3........................................................               9,600               6             960
UI-3 (Internet).............................................             108,651               6          10,865
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
    Total...................................................             137,459  ..............          15,026
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Title and purpose of information collection: Medical Reports; 
OMB 3220-0038.
    Under sections 2(a)(1)(iv) and 2(a)(1)(v) of the Railroad 
Retirement Act (RRA) (45 U.S.C.231a), annuities are payable to 
qualified railroad employees whose physical or mental condition makes 
them unable to (1) work in their regular occupation (occupational 
disability) or (2) work at all (total disability). The requirements for 
establishing disability and proof of continuing disability under the 
RRA are prescribed in 20 CFR 220.
    Annuities are also payable to (1) qualified spouses and widow(ers) 
under sections 2(c)(1)(ii)(C) and 2(d)(1)(ii) of the RRA who have a 
qualifying child who became disabled before age 22; (2) surviving 
children on the basis of disability under section 2(d)(1)(iii)(C), if 
the child's disability began before age 22; and (3) widow(er)s on the 
basis of disability under section 2(d)(1)(i)(B). To meet the disability 
standard, the RRA provides that individuals must have a permanent 
physical or mental condition that makes them unable to engage in any 
regular employment.
    Under section 2(d)(1)(v) of the RRA, annuities are also payable to 
remarried widow(er)s and surviving divorced spouses on the basis of, 
among other things, disability or having a qualifying disabled child in 
care. However, the disability standard in these cases is that found in 
the Social Security Act. That is, individuals must be unable to engage 
in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically 
determinable physical or mental impairment. The RRB also determines 
entitlement to a Period of Disability and entitlement to early Medicare 
based on disability for qualified claimants in accordance with Section 
216 of the Social Security Act.
    When making disability determinations, the RRB needs evidence from 
acceptable medical sources. The RRB currently utilizes Forms G-3EMP, 
Report of Medical Condition by Employer; G-197, Authorization to 
Disclose Information to the Railroad Retirement Board; G-250, Medical 
Assessment; G-250A, Medical Assessment of Residual Functional Capacity; 
G-260, Report of Seizure Disorder; RL-11B, Disclosure of Hospital 
Medical Records; RL-11D, Disclosure of Medical Records from a State 
Agency; RL-11D1, Request for Medical Evidence from Employers, and RL-
250, Request for Medical Assessment, to obtain the necessary medical 
evidence. One response is requested of each respondent. Completion is 
required for all forms to obtain benefits except Form RL-11D1, which is 
voluntary. The RRB proposes no changes to Forms G-197 and RL-11D. The 
RRB proposes changes to the following forms:

Form G-3EMP

    <bullet> Section 1: Updated start of instructions to add new first 
sentence ``The form should be answered and signed by a railroad contact 
official or their delegate.''; removed ``or use a typewriter.'' 
reference; changed date example to ``February 13, 2026'' and replace 
``second page'' with ``last page'' in last sentence.
    <bullet> Question 4: Added ``(typically, this is the occupation 
held most of the time in the last 5 or 15 years)''.
    <bullet> Important Notices: Changed last sentence of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act contact information to ``Railroad

[[Page 68188]]

Retirement Board, ATTN: Bureau of Information Services/Policy and 
Compliance, 844 N Rush St., Chicago, IL 60611-1275.''

Form G-250

    <bullet> Section 1: Added ``This form should only be completed by a 
medical examiner. This form should not be signed by auxiliary medical 
staff (e.g., registered nurse, nurse assistants, medical assistants, 
etc.).'' at the beginning of the instructions.
    <bullet> Questions 4B, 11B, 15B, 16B, 18B, 18C, 18D, 19B, 20B: 
Inserted ``if any surgeries have been performed or scheduled, and 
whether maximum medical improvement has been achieved.'' to allow an 
applicant or annuitant to describe or provide additional information.
    <bullet> Important Notices: Changed last sentence of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act contact information to ``Railroad Retirement Board, ATTN: 
Bureau of Information Services/Policy and Compliance, 844 N Rush St., 
Chicago, IL 60611-1275.''

Form G-250A

    <bullet> Question A4: Added ``Crawl''.
    <bullet> Question A5: Added ``and Feelings''.
    <bullet> Question C:
    Added ``/Ask Questions'' at the end of ``Reason/Use Judgement''.
    Added ``Coordinate Tasks and Set Goals''.
    Added ``Be Punctual and Maintain Attendance''.
    Added ``Be Aware of Hazards''.
    Added ``Engage in Travel''.
    Added ``Attention''.
    <bullet> Important Notices: Changed last sentence of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act contact information to ``Railroad Retirement Board, ATTN: 
Bureau of Information Services/Policy and Compliance, 844 N Rush St., 
Chicago, IL 60611-1275.''

Form G-260

    <bullet> Section 1: Added ``This form should only be completed by a 
medical examiner. This form should not be signed by auxiliary medical 
staff (e.g. registered nurses, nurse assistants, medical assistants, 
etc.).'' and replaced ``Item 26'' with ``Section 15.'' in the Iast 
paragraph.
    <bullet> Section 2: Updated beginning of sentence to ``Print all 
answers in ink.'' and changed the date example to ``February 13, 
2026''.
    <bullet> Question 10a: Inserted ``frequency (e.g. daily, weekly, 
monthly, or yearly) and''.
    <bullet> Important Notices: Changed last sentence of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act contact information to ``Railroad Retirement Board, ATTN: 
Bureau of Information Services/Policy and Compliance, 844 N Rush St., 
Chicago, IL 60611-1275.''

Form RL-11B

    <bullet> Page 1: Changed the last sentence of the second paragraph 
to ``If you are unable to provide the records without charge, please 
contact this office at [fillable] to discuss alternative options before 
you respond.''
    <bullet> Paperwork Reduction Act Notice: Changed last sentence of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act contact information to ``Railroad 
Retirement Board, ATTN: Bureau of Information Services/Policy and 
Compliance, 844 N Rush St., Chicago, IL 60611-1275.''

Form RL-11D1

    <bullet> Top of Page 2: Added blank fields to allow the RRB 
personnel to automate adding the claimant's name and claim number to 
resolve issue when agency only receive page 2 of the form.
    <bullet> Page 2: Please return this form and any medical records to 
section: Removed return address and replaced with fields to allow RRB 
personnel automate adding the appropriate office return address.
    <bullet> Paperwork Reduction Act Notice: Changed last sentence of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act contact information to ``Railroad 
Retirement Board, ATTN: Bureau of Information Services/Policy and 
Compliance, 844 N Rush St., Chicago, IL 60611-1275.''

Form RL-250

    <bullet> Page 1: Changed layout of the end of the second sentence 
to first bullet ``Submit a copy of your office records on the 
claimant's treatment for at least the last 12 months. Also, include 
copies of all available laboratory, hospital, and consultative reports. 
Authorization to release medical information is enclosed.'' and second 
bullet ``Complete the enclosed Form G-250, Medical Assessment. This is 
not an authorization to conduct a new examination.''
    <bullet> Page 1: Inserted ``and office records'' in the fifth 
paragraph.
    <bullet> Page 1: Moved last sentence to the end of second new 
bullet in paragraph 2.
    <bullet> Page 2: Deleted first paragraph.
    <bullet> Page 2: Moved sentence to the end of the first new bullet 
in paragraph 2.
    <bullet> Paperwork Reduction Act Notice: Changed last sentence of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act contact information to ``Railroad 
Retirement Board, ATTN: Bureau of Information Services/Policy and 
Compliance, 844 N Rush St., Chicago, IL 60611-1275.''

                                      Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden
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                          Form No.                             Annual responses   Time (minutes)  Burden (hours)
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G-3EMP......................................................                  85              10              15
G-197.......................................................               2,102              10             351
G-250.......................................................               1,750              30             875
G-250A......................................................                  12              20               4
G-260.......................................................                  53              25              23
RL-11B......................................................                 245              10              41
RL-11D......................................................                  15              10               3
RL-11D1.....................................................                 203              20              68
RL-250......................................................                 804              10             134
    Total...................................................               5,269  ..............           1,514
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Title and purpose of information collection: Placement Service; 
OMB 3220-0057.
    Section 12(i) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) (45 
U.S.C. 362), authorizes the RRB to establish, maintain, and operate 
free employment offices to provide claimants for unemployment benefits 
with job placement opportunities. Section 704(d) of the Regional 
Railroad Reorganization Act of 1973, as amended, and as extended by the 
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, required the

[[Page 68189]]

RRB to maintain and distribute a list of railroad job vacancies, by 
class and craft, based on information furnished by rail carriers to the 
RRB. Although the requirement under the law expired effective August 
13, 1987, the RRB has continued to obtain this information in keeping 
with its employment service responsibilities under Section 12(k) of the 
RUIA. Application procedures for the job placement program are 
prescribed in 20 CFR 325. The procedures pertaining to the RRB's 
obtaining and distributing job vacancy reports furnished by rail 
carriers are described in 20 CFR 346.1.
    The RRB currently utilizes four forms to obtain information needed 
to carry out its job placement responsibilities. Forms ES-21, Referral 
to State Employment Service, and ES-21c, Report of State Employment 
Service Office, are used by the RRB to provide placement assistance for 
unemployed railroad employees through arrangements with State 
Employment Service offices. Form UI-35, Field Office Record of Claimant 
Interview, is used primarily by the RRB to conduct in-person interviews 
of claimants for unemployment benefits. Completion of these forms is 
required to obtain or maintain a benefit. In addition, the RRB also 
collects Railroad Job Vacancies information received voluntarily from 
railroad employers. The RRB proposes the following changes to Forms ES-
21, ES-21C and Form UI-35:

Form ES-21

    <bullet> The RRB proposes to remove Form ES-21 from the information 
collection due to Field Service no longer disseminating and tracking 
Form ES-21 sent to claimants for job placement assistance as claimants 
are increasingly using other digital federal, state, and private job 
placement assistance platforms.

Form ES-21c

    <bullet> The RRB proposes to remove Form ES-21c from the 
information collection due to Field Service no longer disseminating and 
tracking Form ES-21c sent to claimants for job placement assistance as 
claimants are increasingly using other digital federal, state, and 
private job placement assistance platforms.

Form UI-35

    <bullet> Form Title: Changed to ``Record of Claimant Interview''.
    <bullet> Question 3: Added ``Email Address.
    <bullet> Question 6a: Bolded instructions.
    <bullet> Question 6b(3): Added ``Email Address'' and added 
``Mailing'' to Address field.
    <bullet> Question 8a: Changed to ``Employer-provided job protection 
or wage guarantee payments?''
    <bullet> Question 14: Changed to ``Enter the following information 
about the kinds of work that you are qualified for and willing to 
accept (railroad and nonrailroad):''
    <bullet> Question 14c: Changed to ``Maximum miles willing to 
commute:''.
    <bullet> Page 7, Rights and requirements section: Removed ``Central 
register''.

                                  Estimate of Current Annual Respondent Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Form No.                             Annual responses   Time (minutes)  Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UI-35 in person.............................................               4,254               7             496
UI-35 by mail...............................................                 140              11              26
Job Vacancies...............................................                 470              10              78
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
    Total...................................................               4,864  ..............             600
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. Title and purpose of information collection: Report of Medicaid 
State Office on Beneficiary's Buy-In Status; OMB 3220-0185.
    Under Section 7(d) of the Railroad Retirement Act (45 U.S.C. 231), 
the RRB administers the Medicare program for persons covered by the 
railroad retirement system. Under Section 1843 of the Social Security 
Act, states may enter into ``buy-in agreements'' with the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services for the purpose of enrolling certain groups 
of low-income individuals under the Medicare medical insurance (Part B) 
program and paying the premiums for their insurance coverage. 
Generally, these individuals are categorically needy under Medicaid and 
meet the eligibility requirements for Medicare Part B. States can also 
include in their buy-in agreements, individuals who are eligible for 
medical assistance only. The RRB utilizes Form RL-380-F, Report of 
Medicaid State Office on Beneficiary's Buy-In Status, to obtain 
information needed to determine if certain railroad beneficiaries are 
entitled to receive Supplementary Medical Insurance program coverage 
under a state buy-in agreement in the states in which they reside. 
Completion of Form RL-380-F is voluntary. One response is received from 
each respondent. The RRB proposes the following changes to Form RL-380-
F:
    <bullet> Removed ``Medicaid Number'' section to comply with Public 
Law 114-10, Medicare Access, and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 
(MACRA).
    <bullet> Paperwork Reduction Act Notice: Changed last sentence of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act contact information to ``Railroad 
Retirement Board, ATTN: Bureau of Information Services/Policy and 
Compliance, 844 N Rush St., Chicago, IL 60611-1275.''

                                      Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Form No.                            Annual responses    Time (minutes)   Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RL-380-F.................................................                 600               10              100
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[[Page 68190]]

    5. Title and purpose of information collection: Report of Stock 
Options and Other Payments; OMB 3220-0203.
    The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is directed by 45 U.S.C. 
231f(c)(2) to establish a financial interchange (FI) between the 
railroad retirement and social security systems to place the Social 
Security Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) and Disability 
Insurance (DI) Trust Funds and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services (CMS) Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund in the same condition 
they would have been had railroad employment been covered by the Social 
Security Act and Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA). Each year, 
the RRB estimates the benefits and expenses that would have been paid 
by these trust funds, as well as the payroll taxes and income taxes 
that would have been received by them. To make these estimates, the RRB 
requires information on all earnings data that are not taxable under 
the Railroad Retirement Tax Act (RRTA) but would be taxable under FICA.
    The payroll information collected from the BA-15 is essential for 
the calculation of payroll taxes and benefits used by the FI. Failure 
to collect NQSOs and ratification payment information will result in 
understating the payroll taxes that should have been collected and the 
benefit amounts that would have been payable under the Social Security 
Act for FI purposes. Accurate compensation file tabulations are also an 
integral part of the data needed to estimate future tax revenues and 
corresponding FI amounts. Without information on NQSOs and ratification 
payments, the amount of funds to be transferred between the RRB, SSA 
and CMS cannot be determined.
    Form BA-15, Report of Stock Options and Other Payments, to request 
employer information and report identifying information as well as each 
employee's social security number, name, and compensation information, 
which will be reported annually in a quarterly breakdown. The RRB 
receives Form BA-15 by secure Email, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), or 
via CD-ROM. The RRB proposes no changes to Form BA-15.

                                      Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Form No.                             Annual responses   Time (minutes)  Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BA-15 (by secure E-mail, FTP, or CD-ROM)--Positive..........                  10             300              50
BA-15 (by secure E-mail, FTP, or CD-ROM)--Negative..........                 590              15             148
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
    Total...................................................                 600  ..............             198
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additional Information or Comments: To request more information or 
to obtain a copy of the information collection justification, forms, 
and/or supporting material or 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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#80c2f2e9e1eeaec6eff3f4e5f2c0f2f2e2aee7eff6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a6e4d4cfc7c888e0c9d5d2c3d4e6d4d4c488c1c9d0">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Written comments should be received within 60 
days of this notice.

Brian Foster,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-22031 Filed 10-28-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P


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