If you are sick or injured, you may be eligible to receive sickness benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). This booklet provides information about the requirements for receiving sickness benefits, the amount of benefits payable, and procedures for claiming benefits.
To receive sickness benefits, you must complete and file the enclosed Form SI-1a/b, Application for Sickness Benefits, within 10 days from the first day you want to claim benefits. An application is considered filed on the day it is received by the RRB; if you file late you may lose benefits.
You can file your claims for sickness benefits online at www.rrb.gov. To use online services you must have a PIN and Password (PPW) account. The Web site explains how to open a PPW account
For other qualifications for sickness benefits see Eligibility Requirements.
If you are able to work but unemployed, you may be able to receive unemployment benefits. Those benefits are described in booklet, UB-10, Unemployment Benefits for Railroad Employees.
Important: If there is no application enclosed with this booklet or you wish to obtain a copy of the booklet UB-10, contact any RRB office, your railroad employer, your labor organization, a union official, or the RRB's Web site at www.rrb.gov.
This booklet contains general information and does not have the effect of law, regulation, or ruling. Certain exceptions, limitations, and special cases are not covered. If you have any questions about sickness or unemployment benefits, contact the RRB at 877-772-5772.
Spanish translation booklets concerning railroad sickness and unemployment benefits are available from any office of the RRB.
Tenemos un librete en Español que explica los beneficios de los enfermos del ferrocarril. Para obtener una copia, entre en contacto con cualquier oficina de la RRB, su empleador ferroviario, su organizacion laboral, un oficial de un sindicato o otraves del web site RRB: Publicaciones en Español.