- What is the Railroad Employee Equity and Fairness (REEF) Act?
The Railroad Employee Equity and Fairness (REEF) Act was signed into law on December 23, 2024, as part of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act. This law amends the Continued Assistance to Rail Workers Act (CARWA) extension of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to permanently exempt Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) benefits from reduction due to sequestration. CARWA created a temporary exemption from sequestration that originally expired 30 days after the end of the COVID-19 national emergency. The REEF Act reinstates the exemption permanently and makes it retroactive to the date the temporary exemption expired.
- What does this mean?
RUIA benefits paid on December 26, 2024, and going forward, will no longer be reduced by 5.7% (old sequestration rate). All RUIA benefits paid for days claimed beginning May 10, 2023, through December 2024, will be reviewed for possible retroactive benefit payment(s) of previously reduced unemployment and/or sickness claims.
- Am I eligible for payment of retroactive benefits?
If you received RUIA benefits for days claimed on May 10, 2023, through December 2024, you may be entitled to additional benefits.
- I am eligible, what do I need to do?
No action on your part is necessary at this time unless you have moved and/or changed banking information since you last claimed RUIA benefits. To update your information, please contact the RRB at 1-877-772-5772, or write to your local field office. The mailing address for your local field office can be found through our Field Office Locator.
- When can I expect payment?
Due to the significant system programming changes required, we are currently unable to advise when retroactive payment(s) will be released. Please check this webpage for updates on the release of payment(s).
- How much will I receive?
Sequestration required reduction of RUIA benefits by 5.7 percent. That percentage of benefits reduced due to sequestration will be restored. Calculation of payment(s) will be based on the number of claimed payable days of RUIA benefits on May 10, 2023, through December 2024 that were reduced by the sequestration order.
- How will I be able to identify my retroactive payment once it has been made?
If you are currently receiving RUIA benefits, you may receive small payment(s) of RUIA benefits, or you may see an increase in your current RUIA benefit payments due to retroactive payment(s) of RUIA benefits.
If you are not currently receiving RUIA benefits, you may receive small payment(s) of RUIA benefits.
Note: If your banking information is not up to date, you will receive a paper check.
- I have opted in Voluntary Tax Withholding. How will this impact my payment?
Payment(s) will be reduced by the Voluntary Tax Withholding on file. If you would like to make changes to your Voluntary Tax Withholding, please contact the RRB at 1-877-772-5772, or write to your local field office.
- I have an active garnishment order. How will this impact my payment?
Payment(s) will be reduced by the active garnishment order on file. If there have been any changes to your garnishment order, please contact the RRB at 1-877-772-5772, or write to your local field office.
- Will I have to file an amended tax return?
No. Forms 1099-G and W-2 reports issued for tax year 2025 in January 2026 will reflect retroactive payment(s) of RUIA benefits.
Note: If you received a notice on behalf of a deceased claimant or believe that a deceased claimant may be entitled, please contact the RRB at 1-877-772-5772 for assistance.