CLEVELAND, May 8 — President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) into law on February 17, 2009. It contains two important provisions to assist BLET members during these troubled economic times:
1. Extended unemployment benefits
The Act provides an appropriation of $20 million to be used for payment of additional extended unemployment benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act. The new law provides the temporary extended benefits to employees receiving normal unemployment benefits for days between July 1, 2008, and June 30, 2009.
* Railroad workers who previously were not eligible for extended unemployment benefits because they did not have 10 years of service may be eligible for benefits of up to 65 days within an extended period consisting of 7 consecutive 2-week registration periods.
* Railroad workers who previously were eligible for extended unemployment benefits of up to 65 days may now be eligible for benefits of up to 130 days within an extended period consisting of 13 consecutive 2-week registration periods.
* The latest date that an extended benefit period under these special provisions may begin is December 31, 2009, with payments stopping when the $20 million has been expended.
The RRB will notify eligible individuals of their new rights to extended benefits and provide additional information about those benefits as soon as possible.
Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about extended unemployment benefits:
http://www.rrb.gov/recovery/faq_ext_ruia.asp
2. One-time payment to railroad retirement beneficiaries
Under the new legislation, a one-time economic recovery payment of $250 will also be paid to most adults (including disabled adult children) who receive railroad retirement benefits.
* No action is required on your part to receive this payment.
* Only individuals who were eligible for railroad retirement benefits in November 2008, December 2008, or January 2009 will receive the special payment.
* All railroad retirement beneficiaries residing in the United States and U.S. territories, except children and Medicare-only beneficiaries, will receive this one-time payment. Payees receiving RRB payments based on a legal partition and/or garnishment are not eligible to receive this payment.
* You will only receive one $250 payment even if you are also receiving social security and/or veterans benefits.
* The one-time payment will be issued separately and will not be included in your regular monthly benefit payment. It will be delivered in the same way you currently receive your benefit payment (check or direct deposit).
* Payments are expected to be issued in May 2009.
Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about one-time payments:
http://www.rrb.gov/recovery/faq_erp.asp