A new benefit year under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act begins July 1, 2013. Administered by the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), this Act provides two kinds of benefits for qualified railroaders: unemployment benefits for those who become unemployed but are ready, willing and able to work; and sickness benefits for those who are unable to
Railroad Retirement Act spouse and widow(er)s’ annuities (including divorced spouse, surviving divorced spouse and remarried widow(er)s’ annuities) are subject to reduction when social security benefits or dual railroad retirement annuities are also payable. Such railroad retirement benefits may also be reduced when a spouse or widow(er) is entitled to a public service pension unless certain
National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust (NRRIT) has released its quarterly update for the period ending March 31, 2013. Click here to view the update.
A release from the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) describes the disability annuities for railroaders who become totally or occupationally disabled. Medicare coverage before age 65 is also available for totally disabled employees and those suffering from ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) or chronic kidney disease. Click here to read the questions and answers release that describes
A recent letter from the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) to the Treasurer of Michigan, pointed out that the Michigan Income Tax code, that would tax railroad retirement benefits, is prohibited under federal statute. Michigan seeks to deny the deduction for individuals who are paid under the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) effectively assessing a State tax
As a result of recently implemented budget cuts, the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) must reduce railroad unemployment and sickness insurance benefits by 9.2 percent. These reductions stem from a sequestration order which President Obama filed on March 1, 2013, in accordance with the requirements of the Budget Control Act of 2011. The sequestration order sets
According to Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) policy, every annuitant has the right to manage his or her own benefits. However, when physical or mental impairments make a railroad retirement annuitant incapable of properly handling benefit payments, or where the RRB determines that the interests of the annuitant so require, the agency can appoint a representative
The National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust (NRRIT) has released its quarterly update for the period ending December 31, 2012. Click here to view the update.
The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board’s (RRB) Customer Service Plan promotes the principles and objectives of customer-driven quality service agency-wide. The RRB’s plan lays out the standards and expresses the time frames in terms of when the agency is required to make its decision to pay or deny an application for benefits. The plan states specifically
The amounts of compensation subject to railroad retirement tier I and tier II payroll taxes will increase in 2013. The tier I tax rates will remain the same on railroad employers, while railroad employees will see their effective tier I rate increase from 5.65 percent to 7.65 percent. The tier II tax rate on both
