The RRB maintains direct contact with railroad retirement beneficiaries through its field offices located across the country. Field personnel explain benefit rights and responsibilities on an individual basis, assist railroad employees in applying for benefits and answer any questions related to the benefit programs. The RRB also relies on railroad labor groups and employers for assistance in keeping railroad personnel informed about its benefit programs.
At informational conferences sponsored by the Labor Member of the Board for railroad labor union officials, RRB representatives describe and discuss the benefits available under the railroad retirement-survivor, unemployment-sickness and Medicare programs, and the attendees are provided with comprehensive informational materials. Now in its 59th year, in 2015 a total of 1,381 railroad labor union officials attended 37 informational conferences held in cities throughout the United States. The Labor Member's Office in 2014 also launched a new program of pre-retirement seminars designed for railroad employees and their spouses nearing retirement. Nine seminars were held during 2015, with 538 individuals in attendance. In addition, railroad labor unions frequently request that RRB representatives speak before their meetings, seminars and conventions. In 2015, the Labor Member's Office was represented at 17 union gatherings attended by 2,471 railroad labor officials. Field personnel addressed 53 local union meetings with 2,395 members in attendance.
The Management Member's Office hosted the 9th annual National Rail Employer Training Seminar in Chicago in late August 2015, attended by 179 reporting personnel from around the country. RRB executives and staff, along with guest speakers from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), presented on a variety of topics, including: RRB and IRS audits; basic reporting; employer coverage; the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act's experience rating system; web-based services; internet reporting and claim forms available on the Employer Reporting System (ERS); processing tax and debt payments and claims using Pay.Gov and the ERS; retirement and survivor annuities; and IRS reporting issues. The employers were also able to attend a session conducted by the RRB's Office of Inspector General on efforts to protect the railroad retirement trust funds. The Management Member's Office hosts the seminar every three years, in addition to other meetings and seminars during the year for rail executive and managers.