March 2008

Comparing Railroad Retirement Benefits with Social Security
Employers and employees covered by the Railroad Retirement Act pay higher retirement taxes than those covered by the Social Security Act, so that railroad retirement benefits remain higher than social security benefits, especially for career employees.  Click here  for answers to questions about the differences in rail retirement and social security benefits payable at the close of the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007. Also explained are the differences in age requirements and payroll taxes under the two systems.