April 17, 2025 | News, Railroad Retirement, Top News
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) was recently informed that the decision to close upwards of 40 field offices has been reversed and that the nine RRB field offices that had their leases scheduled to be terminated will stay open. This news follows a meeting that...
April 16, 2025 | News, Railroad Retirement, Top News
Each month, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) publishes a list of questions and answers (Q&A) to highlight and explain the various benefits available to railroad workers and their families. This month’s Q&A examines railroad retirement survivor benefit...
April 3, 2025 | Headlines, Railroad Retirement
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, April 2, 2025) Under the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), monthly survivor annuities may be payable to a railroad employee’s widow(er), children, and select other dependents. Lump-sum death benefits may also be payable...
March 18, 2025 | News, Railroad Retirement, Top News
The BLET National Division has been approached by many concerned members regarding the Trump administration’s ongoing cuts to federal agencies with questions about what effect those reductions in staffing and programs might have on railroad workers. Among the cuts, it...
March 16, 2025 | News, Railroad Retirement, Top News
The Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA), which was signed into law on January 5, 2025, eliminates the reduction previously applied to the Railroad Retirement annuities or Social Security benefits of individuals who also receive pensions from work not covered by Social...
February 1, 2025 | News, Railroad Retirement, Top News
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has prepared a helpful list of Questions & Answers regarding the Railroad Employee Equity and Fairness (REEF) Act, which was recently signed into law. Under the new law, benefits paid under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance...
January 30, 2025 | News, Railroad Retirement, Top News
The Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law on January 5, 2025, will end two statutory reductions for railroad retirees, their spouses, and survivors who are receiving public pensions from work not covered by social security. The repeal of these provisions means...
January 15, 2025 | Health & Welfare, Legislation, News, Railroad Retirement, Top News
Different from other unemployment and sickness benefits, railroad worker benefits are fully funded through payroll deduction and not government taxes. The federal government administers the program, but the government doesn’t fund railroad benefits. Therefore, it is...
November 1, 2024 | News, Railroad Retirement, Top News
Most railroad retirement annuities, like social security benefits, will increase in January 2025 based on a rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the third quarter of 2023 to the corresponding period of the current year. Cost-of-living increases are calculated...
October 31, 2024 | News, Railroad Retirement, Top News
Like other federal agencies, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has been operating under a continuing resolution since October 1, 2024, the start of fiscal year (FY) 2025. The temporary funding measure provides the agency with continuing appropriations of $27.9...