Freedom of Information Act

Introduction

The Railroad Retirement Board is required under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to disclose records requested in writing by any person. However, we may withhold information under certain exemptions and exclusions provided by the statute. Also, the Railroad Retirement Act, the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, and the Privacy Act restrict disclosure of information about individuals. FOIA applies only to federal agencies and does not create a right of access to records held by Congress, the courts, or by state or local government agencies.

Consult our Guide for Requesting FOIA Records if you plan to make a FOIA request. We also encourage you to browse Agency Overview, News Releases, Statistical Information, Benefit Forms and Publications, and Employer Forms and Publications located in the links to the left.

Additionally, pursuant to Executive Order 13392 entitled "Improving Agency Disclosure of Information," the RRB's pdf icon FOIA Improvement Plan will make the processing of FOIA requests more streamlined and effective and increase public awareness of FOIA processing.

Annual FOIA Report

Report Year	Report Name	Link	Page Count
2023	2023 Annual FOIA Report	PDF Version (546.44 KB) XML Version (72.65 KB) Excel Version (13.96 KB)	28
2022	2022 Annual FOIA Report	PDF Version (372.43 KB) XML Version (72.8 KB) Excel Version (14.86 KB)	21

Chief FOIA Officer Reports

Report Year	Report Name	Link	Page Count
2024	2024 Chief FOIA Officer Report	PDF Version (214.45 KB)	13
2023	2023 Chief FOIA Officer Report	PDF Version (183.69 KB)	14

Quarterly FOIA Reports

Please see Railroad Retirement Board's quarterly FOIA requests page on FOIA.gov.

What information is available without filing a FOIA request and where is it?

Information is available

in the Federal Register
the RRB's Reading Room
844 N. Rush St.
Chicago, IL 60611
our website
RRB Government Information Locator System (GILS) website.

See chart below for specific information and where located.

Who Can Request?

Any person may request agency records.

How to Request?

Mail/Fax

Make request in writing, see item B. 3 in the Guide for Requesting FOIA Records
State that the request is being made under the FOIA
Mark both the envelope and contents, "Freedom of Information Request"
Address your request to:

RRB Records	OIG Records
Chief FOIA Officer General Counsel Railroad Retirement Board 844 North Rush Street Chicago, Illinois 60611-1275 Fax: (312) 751-7102	Office of Inspector General FOIA Officer Railroad Retirement Board 844 North Rush Street Chicago, Illinois 60611-1275 Fax: (312) 751-4342

Online

EFOIA

Is there a Fee?

RRB may charge fees, according to published fee schedules, for searching, reviewing, and copying records. Noncommercial requesters are not charged for the first 100 pages of document copying, or for the first two hours of search time. For more information see Guide for Requesting FOIA Records.

Frequently Requested Information Available Without Filing a FOIA Request

Available Information	Where Located
Descriptions of agency organization	Federal Register
Procedures for the public to obtain information
Statements of agency function
Rules of procedure
Descriptions of agency forms
Substantive rules of general applicability and statements of general policy
Any changes in material required to be published
Agency procedure manuals	RRB Reading Room, Web Site
Final decisions of the three-member Board which heads the agency	RRB Reading Room, Web Site
Rulings of the Board	RRB Reading Room, Web Site
Legal opinions	RRB Reading Room, Web Site
SmartPay 3 Purchase Card holders	Web Site
General information about the RRB	Web Site
Privacy Act System of Records	Web Site

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