RRB Labor Member: Enhanced Benefit Payments Expected by End of May

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, recently signed into law by President Trump, authorized extended unemployment insurance (UI) benefits for railroad workers sidelined during the COVID-19 pandemic. After making necessary programming changes to agency systems, the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) began processing and paying extended benefits on May 11.

A message from John Bragg, the RRB labor member, released recently stated that the increased $1,200 in unemployment benefits from the CARES Act will begin to be deposited toward the end of the month.

“We hope to have Phase 2 completed by the end of the month,” Bragg stated. “Our team is working on the necessary programming changes to provide for those payments.”

RRB sent UI claimants a letter of the payment actions and mailed any needed claim forms to bring claimants current so they can continue to receive the extended benefits. For those who file their claims electronically, the RRB loaded appropriate claim forms to their online accounts so that individuals can file them online through myRRB on the website RRB.gov.

Click here to read the earlier release from RRB about the CARES Act unemployment benefits.