The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) administers the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA), which provides qualified railroaders with unemployment benefits when they become unemployed but are ready, willing, and able to work, and sickness benefits when they cannot work because of sickness or injury. Sickness benefits are also payable to female railroad workers when they are unable to work because of health conditions related to pregnancy, miscarriage, or childbirth.
The RRB has prepared a list of questions and answers to describe these benefit payments, their eligibility requirements, and how to apply for and claim them. The Q&A also explains how the Railroad Employee Equity and Fairness Act eliminates the reduction to railroad unemployment and sickness benefits previously mandated by a federal sequestration order.
Please visit the RRB website to read the entire Q&A. Additionally, a pamphlet regarding unemployment and sickness benefits is available here.