Under Section 3(f)(3) of the Railroad
Retirement Act, the total monthly benefits payable to a railroad
employee and his/her family are guaranteed to be no less than the
amount which would be payable if the employee's railroad service
had been covered by the Social Security Act.
The change in estimated burden
is due to the drop in awards for disability benefits. Tracking the
beginning date of employee disability annuities with a disability
freeze date shows a steady decrease from calendar year 2011 through
2013. This is the pool from which Overall Minimum computations are
drawn and it is reasonable to expect that when this pool is
smaller, the number of guaranty computations are smaller. We have
shown the changes as an adjustment.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.