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.
General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
57.001
Federal Agency/Office
Railroad Retirement Board
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
D - Direct Payments With Unrestricted Use; Z - Salaries and Expenses
Program Accomplishments
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 2019 About 537,000 individuals are expected to receive benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act, with about 21,000 expected to receive unemployment and sickness benefits.
Fiscal Year 2020 About 532,000 individuals should receive benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act, and about 24,000 should receive unemployment and sickness benefits.
Authorization
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
The Railroad Retirement Board pays social security equivalent benefits to retired railroad workers and certain family members.
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
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 $3,862.50 in calendar year 2017, $3,900.00 in calendar year 2018, and $4,012.50 in calendar year 2019 (counting no more than $1,545 in 2017, $1,560 in 2018, and $1,605 in 2019).
Beneficiary Eligibility
Individuals, families, pension recipients.
Credentials/Documentation
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.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Application Procedure
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 for the location of the nearest office. Application for unemployment benefits can also be made online at RRB.gov.
Award Procedure
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.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
Varies depending upon complexity of claim.
Appeals
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.
Renewals
Not applicable.
How are proposals selected?
Not applicable.
How may assistance be used?
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.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Not applicable.
Auditing
Not applicable.
Records
Not applicable.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
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.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
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.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
The Railroad Retirement Board has 53 local offices around the country. To contact or obtain the address for the nearest office, call (1-877) 772-5772.
Headquarters Office
Bruce Rodman
844 North Rush Street, 4NE
Chicago, IL 60611-1275 US
bruce.rodman@rrb.gov
Phone: (312) 751-4932
Fax: (312) 751-7154
Website Address
http://www.rrb.gov
Financial Information
Account Identification
60-0111-0-1-601
Obligations
(Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use) FY 18$13,216,000,000.00; FY 19 est $13,130,000,000.00; FY 20 est $13,298,000,000.00; FY 17$12,667,000,000.00; FY 16$12,594,000,000.00; - (Salaries and Expenses) FY 18$123,650,000.00; FY 19 est $123,650,000.00; FY 20 est $116,375,000.00; FY 17$141,500,000.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Amounts for 2018: Employee initially awarded age annuities - monthly maximum $5,274, average $2,904; employee disability - monthly maximum $5,143, average $2,816; employee supplemental annuities - monthly maximum $70, average $42; married spouse benefits - monthly maximum $2,521, average $1,077; widows and widowers - monthly maximum $5,033, average $1,754; widowed mothers and fathers - monthly maximum $4,438, average $1,919; children - monthly maximum $2,929, average $1,152; unemployment and sickness - weekly maximum for benefit year 2019-2020 $367, expected average $367.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
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.
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.