Social Insurance for Railroad Workers

 

Provide income security for retired and disabled railroad workers, their family members, and survivors, and financial benefits for railroad workers who are unemployed or unable to work due to illness or injury. Also, administer Medicare coverage for railroad workers and their family members.

Active 57.001 Railroad Retirement Board D - Direct Payments With Unrestricted Use; Z - Salaries and Expenses Fiscal Year 2016 An estimated 554,000 individuals should receive benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act and 33,000 should receive unemployment and sickness benefits. About 553,000 individuals received benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act and approximately 33,000 received unemployment and sickness benefits.
Fiscal Year 2017 About 548,000 individuals received benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act and about 28,000 received unemployment and sickness benefits.
Fiscal Year 2018 About 543,000 individuals received benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act, and about 24,000 received unemployment and sickness benefits.
Fiscal Year 2020 Some 528,000 individuals received benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act, with over 41,000 receiving unemployment and sickness benefits. In addition, the Railroad Retirement Board paid a total of $152.7 million in unemployment and sickness benefits under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. This includes approximately $12.7 million for railroad unemployment insurance extended benefits, about $134.8 million for railroad unemployment insurance enhanced benefits, and over $5.3 million for waiver of the 7-day waiting period for railroad unemployment and sickness insurance benefits.
Fiscal Year 2023 About 495,000 individuals are expected to receive benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act, with approximately 16,000 receiving unemployment and sickness benefits, including benefits paid under the Continued Assistance to Rail Workers Act of 2020 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Provides statutory authorization and basis for paying retirement benefits to retired railroad workers and certain family members., Title Railroad Retirement Act of 1974, Public Law 93-445, 45 U.S.C. 231, Statute 88,1305
Provides authorization and basis for paying social security benefits for American workers and certain family members., Title Social Security Act of 1935, Public Law 74-271, 42 U.S.C. 7, Statute 49,620
Provides statutory authorization and basis for paying unemployment and sickness benefits to railroad workers., Title Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, Public Law 75-722, 45 U.S.C. 351, Statute 52,1094
Extends statutory authorization and basis for paying additional unemployment and sickness benefits related to the coronavirus pandemic and suspended sequestration of unemployment and sickness benefits through May 9, 2023, 30 days after the Presidential declaration of an end to the national emergency concerning the coronavirus pandemic., Title Continued Assistance to Rail Workers Act of 2020, Part Title II, Chapter I, Subchapter III, Section 231-235, Public Law 116-260, 45 U.S.C. 352
Provides statutory authorization and basis for paying additional unemployment and sickness benefits to railroad workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic., Title Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Part Division A, Title II, Section 2112-2114, Public Law 116-136, 45 U.S.C. 352
Further extends statutory authorization and basis for paying additional unemployment and sickness benefits related to the coronavirus pandemic., Title American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021, Part Title II, Part 2, Subtitle J, Section 2901-2904, Public Law 117-2, 45 U.S.C. 352
The Railroad Retirement Board pays social security equivalent benefits to retired railroad workers and certain family members, additional benefits based on rail service alone, and provides sickness-unemployment insurance benefits for railroad employees. Under the Railroad Retirement Act, for employee, spouse and survivor benefits, the employee must have had 10 or more years of railroad service or, for annuities beginning January 2002 or later, 5 years of railroad service rendered after 1995. For survivors to be eligible for benefits, the employee must also have been insured at death. Under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, an employee must have earned at least $4,275.00 in calendar year 2021, $4,387.50 in calendar year 2022, and $4,737.50 in calendar year 2023 (counting no more than $1,710 per month in 2021, $1,755 per month in 2022, and $1,895 per month in 2023). Individuals, families, pension recipients. Proof of age must be provided for retirement benefits. For spouse and survivor benefits, proof of marriage and familial relationship is required. Medical evidence is necessary for disability and sickness benefits. Other proofs, such as military service, must also be submitted as required by law. In order to receive unemployment and sickness benefits, registration is required. Also, any change in address or eligibility (such as the death of a recipient, work status, excess earnings, marital/family status, medical condition or school attendance) should be promptly reported when it occurs. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Application for retirement, disability, survivor, unemployment or sickness benefits should be made to any office of the Railroad Retirement Board. Individuals can call 1-877-772-5772 to locate or contact the servicing office. Applications and claims for unemployment benefits, and claims for sickness benefits, can also be made online at RRB.gov/Benefits/myRRB. The Railroad Retirement Board makes awards under the Railroad Retirement Act and the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act following review by claims examiners and related staff. After review is completed, the applicant will receive notice by mail. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Varies depending upon complexity of claim. From 30 to 60 days. Initial appeals are made to the agency's Reconsideration Section, with subsequent appeals to the Bureau of Hearings and Appeals, the Board and the U.S. Court of Appeals. Not applicable. Not applicable. Under the provisions of the Railroad Retirement Act and the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, benefits are provided for personal use of: (1) workers who retire because of age or disability, including supplemental annuities for career railroad employees; (2) eligible spouses and divorced spouses of retired employees; (3) surviving widows, widowers, divorced spouses, children, and dependent parents of deceased employees; (4) unemployed workers; (5) workers who are sick or injured. In addition, the Railroad Retirement Board administers Medicare coverage for railroad retirement beneficiaries on the same basis as other eligible persons. Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Benefits are paid on a one-time or recurring basis as long as eligibility is maintained. The death of the recipient generally terminates payment of benefits. Payments are typically released on a monthly basis for retirement and survivor benefits, with limited instances of lump-sum survivor payments. Unemployment and sickness benefits are released periodically as claims are filed/approved. Payments released on a monthly, periodic or lump-sum basis. The Railroad Retirement Board has 53 local offices around the country. To contact or obtain the address for the nearest office, call (877) 772-5772 or visit the agency website, RRB.gov. Bruce Rodman
844 North Rush Street, 4NE
Chicago, IL 60611-1275 US
bruce.rodman@rrb.gov
Phone: (312) 751-4932
Fax: (312) 751-7154 http://www.RRB.gov 60-0123-0-1-603 (Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use) FY 22$13,649,000,000.00; FY 23 est $14,223,000,000.00; FY 24 est $14,677,000,000.00; FY 21$13,547,000,000.00; FY 20$13,612,000,000.00; FY 19$13,259,000,000.00; FY 18$13,216,000,000.00; FY 17$12,667,000,000.00; FY 16$12,594,000,000.00; - (Salaries and Expenses) FY 22$124,000,000.00; FY 23 est $128,000,000.00; FY 24 est $132,000,000.00; FY 21$123,500,000.00; FY 20$123,500,000.00; FY 19$123,500,000.00; FY 18$123,650,000.00; FY 17$141,500,000.00; - Amounts for 2022: Employee initially awarded age annuities - monthly maximum $6,330, average $3,444; employee disability - monthly maximum $6,056, average $3,343; employee supplemental annuities - monthly maximum $70, average $41; married spouse benefits - monthly maximum $3,033, average $1,248; widows and widowers - monthly maximum $5,965, average $2,075; widowed mothers and fathers - monthly maximum $5,253, average $2,222; children - monthly maximum $3,536, average $1,450; unemployment and sickness - weekly maximum for benefit year 2023-2024 $435, expected average $416. Benefits paid under the Railroad Retirement Act and the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act are covered in Chapter 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 200 through 350. Information on benefits is also available in press releases and various publications. They can be obtained free of charge at any Railroad Retirement Board office and on the agency website, RRB.gov. Not applicable.