(The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board issued the following on December 9, 2009.)
CHICAGO — More railroad workers will be eligible to receive extended unemployment insurance benefits under legislation signed by President Obama on November 6.
The legislation, known as the “Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009,” authorizes payment of extended unemployment benefits to rail workers with jobless claims during the period from July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2010.
Under the legislation, railroad workers with less than 10 years of service may be eligible for up to 65 days of extended benefits within 7 consecutive 2-week registration periods. Workers with 10 or more years of railroad service, who were previously eligible for up to 65 days in extended benefits, may now receive benefits for up to 130 days within 13 consecutive 2-week registration periods.
The RRB will notify eligible individuals of their rights to extended benefits as they become eligible and also provide any applicable claim forms. Employees may file these claims securely online at www.rrb.gov or mail them to the RRB office serving their area.
The recently enacted legislation also provided funding of $175 million to pay these extended unemployment benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act. The latest date that an extended benefit period may begin under the new provisions is December 31, 2010, although payments will stop if the $175 million is exhausted at an earlier date.
Railroad workers can obtain more information about the additional extended unemployment benefits by checking the RRB’s Web site at www.rrb.gov or calling the agency’s toll-free telephone number at 1-877-772-5772.