The lifetime maximum under the negotiated medical plan for early retirees will increase by $5,800 from $145,800 to $151,600, effective January 1, 2016, due to automatic adjustments based on medical cost inflation. The change affects members enrolled in the Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit Plan, GA-46000. Click here for more information about
For several decades Long Island Rail Road had a standing practice of issuing Lifetime rail passes upon retirement to LIRR employees and their spouses. However, in 2013, LIRR unilaterally issued a new policy that required retirees and their spouses to not only renew their rail passes within six months but also required that the passes
With recent tragic events taking center-stage on Capitol Hill, President Obama reluctantly signed another two-week extension of the current Highway-Transit bill. The bill had been scheduled to expire this evening. The extension should provide lawmakers the needed time to hammer out the final details on a much longer bill that would potentially provide authorized funding
In a release from the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced that the standard monthly Part B premium will be $121.80 in 2016. However, most Medicare beneficiaries will not see an increase in their monthly Part B premiums because of a “hold harmless” provision in the law. Under
President Obama has appointed Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) 249 to make non-binding recommendations to settle the outstanding contract dispute between New Jersey Transit (NJT) and the coalition of all the unions, including TCU Carmen, Clerks and Supervisors. The three member Board will be chaired by arbitrator Joshua Javits, who also served as Chairman of the
New Jersey Transit invoked the appointment of a second Presidential Emergency Board (PEB), pursuant to Section 9a of the Railway Labor Act. President Obama will now appoint the members of the Presidential Emergency Board. The Board will convene around December 12, at which time the Rail Labor Coalition and NJT will present their final proposals
Under the Railroad Retirement Act, a “current connection with the railroad industry” is one of the eligibility requirements for occupational disability annuities and supplemental annuities, and is one of the factors that determine whether the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) or the Social Security Administration has jurisdiction over the payment of monthly benefits to survivors of
On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed their Surface Transportation bill (a.k.a. “Highway” bill). After votes on over 100 amendments, the bill eventually passed overwhelmingly by a vote of 363-64. Notably, the House rejected the Ribble amendment that would have increased truck weight limitations. TCU had urgedlawmakers numerous times to strike the language, and it
On Wednesday, Congress moved to extend the Positive Train Control (PTC) deadline by three years, clearing the way for railroads to continue operations as they work to properly install, test, and fully implement the new safety network. The bipartisan legislation that was worked out between House and Senate committee staff was attached to the Surface
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) release a statement on 2016 Railroad Retirement annuities. Railroad retirement annuities, like social security benefits, will not increase in January 2016 as there was no increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the third quarter of last year to the corresponding period of the current year. Also, because there
