Railroad Retirement Board
New Economic Recovery
Legislation Affects Railroad Retirement
Annuitants and
Railroad Workers
February 2009
The American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009, recently signed into law by President Obama, contains
a number of provisions that affect railroad retirement annuitants and railroad
workers. This Act provides for a one-time $250 payment to most
individuals who receive railroad retirement benefits, and also provides up to
13 additional weeks of unemployment benefits for certain railroad workers who
exhaust their rights to the benefits normally provided under the Railroad
Unemployment Insurance Act.
One-time payment to beneficiaries.—A one-time economic recovery payment
of $250 will be paid to adults (including disabled adult children) who receive
railroad retirement, social security, Supplemental Security Income or veterans
disability benefits.
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB),
the Social Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs will
be responsible for certifying and paying individuals under their respective
programs. They will also coordinate activities to ensure that only one
$250 payment is issued to each eligible beneficiary.
Only individuals who were eligible for benefits under
one of the four programs in November 2008, December 2008, or January 2009 will
receive the special payment. All railroad retirement beneficiaries
residing in the
The RRB expects its payments to be issued in May
2009. The special payment will be a separate payment, which will not be
included in the beneficiary’s regular monthly benefit payment. It will be
delivered in the same way a beneficiary currently receives his or her benefit
payment (check or direct deposit).
Extended unemployment benefits.—The Act also 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
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
The RRB will notify eligible
individuals of their new rights to extended benefits and provide additional
information about those benefits as soon as possible.
Public Affairs 312-751-4777
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