(Source: U.S. Railroad Retirement Board press release, January 22, 2015)
CHICAGO — The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has announced a schedule of dates for the agency’s spring 2015 Informational Conferences and Pre-Retirement Seminars.
Informational Conferences will be held in 22 locations across the country, beginning March 13 in Covina, CA. Started nearly 60 years ago by the RRB’s Office of the Labor Member, the conferences provide rail union officers with a comprehensive overview of the provisions and financing of the railroad retirement and unemployment insurance systems. These officials, in turn, pass on to their fellow rail labor membership the information acquired at the conferences.
Pre-Retirement Seminars are planned for several locations during the spring, with the first to be held April 17 in Albuquerque, NM. Designed for railroad employees and spouses planning to retire within 5 years or less, the seminars familiarize attendees with the retirement benefits available to them, and also guide them through the application process. The program began in 2014 on a pilot basis.
Informational Conferences are open to union officials and their spouses by invitation only. Labor representatives who do not receive an invitation to a conference in their area should contact the RRB toll-free at 1-877-772-5772 and request that they be added to the agency’s invitation database. Registration for each conference begins at 8 a.m., with the program starting at 8:30 a.m. and concluding at 12:15 p.m.
Pre-Retirement Seminars are open to the railroad public. However, persons wishing to attend are asked to print and complete a registration form, which is available by visiting the RRB’s website at www.rrb.gov, and selecting the Office of the Labor Member’s Educational Materials link in the Spotlight section of the home page (http://www.rrb.gov/lmo/educational_materials.asp). Seminar space is limited and registration is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Completed forms should be mailed or faxed to the RRB office listed on the form as soon as possible. Check-in for each seminar begins at 8 a.m., with the program starting at 8:30 a.m. and concluding at 12:30 p.m.
Individuals who have not previously submitted documents required when filing a railroad retirement annuity application, such as proofs of age, marriage, or military service, are encouraged to bring this material (original documents or certified copies required) to the seminar. Attendees should also bring along an additional copy of each item to leave with the RRB field personnel leading the seminars.
Those unable to attend the seminars but still seeking pre-retirement information should contact the RRB. Individual retirement counseling is available in person at an agency field office, or by phone by contacting the RRB toll-free at 1-877-772-5772.
Dates and locations for the agency’s fall schedule of Informational Conferences and Pre-Retirement Seminars will be released this summer.
Spring 2015 Informational Conference Schedule
MARCH
13 – Covina, CA
20 – Baltimore, MD
27 – Oakland, CA
27 – Birmingham, AL
APRIL
10 – Richmond, VA
16 – Westbury, NY
17 – St. Louis, MO
17 – Newark, NJ
24 – St. Paul, MN
24 – Detroit, MI
MAY
8 – Omaha, NE
8 – Little Rock, AR
15 – Kansas City, MO
15 – Cleveland, OH
29 – Denver, CO
29 – Cincinnati, OH
JUNE
5 – Billings, MT
5 – Indianapolis, IN
12 – Portland, OR
12 – Huntington, WV
19 – Chicago, IL
19 – Fargo, ND
• • •
Spring 2015 Pre-Retirement Seminar Schedule
(Visit www.rrb.gov and select the Office of the Labor Member’s Educational Materials link in the Spotlight section of the home page for registration forms and contact information for the following seminars.)
Albuquerque, N.M. • Friday, April 17, 2015
Location: U.S. Courthouse
421 Gold Ave. SW, Room 410
Albuquerque, NM 87103
Phone: 877-772-5772
Salt Lake City, Utah • Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building
125 South State Street, Room 5102
Salt Lake City, UT 84138-1137
Phone: 877-772-5772
Indianapolis, Ind. • Wednesday, May 6, 2015
United Transportation Union
619 East St. Clair Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Phone: 877-772-5772
Westbury, N.Y. • Friday, May 15, 2015
Alfonse M. D’Amato U.S. Courthouse
175 Federal Plaza
GSA Training Room
Central Islip, NY 11722
Phone: 877-772-5772
Mesa, Ariz. • Friday, May 15, 2015
Sheet Metal Workers Local #359
2604 E. Adams St.
Phoenix, AZ 85034
Phone: 602-273-1388
Des Moines, Iowa • Friday, June 5, 2015
UAW Local 450
4589 Northwest 6th Drive
Des Moines, IA 50313
Phone: 877-772-5772
Atlanta, Ga. • Friday, June 19, 2015
Peachtree Summit Federal Building
Summit Exchange – 1st Floor
401 West Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA 30308
Phone: 877-772-5772