Public Affairs | RRB.Gov

Q&A: The Social Security Fairness Act and its Impact on Railroad Retirement Annuities

The Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA), which was signed into law on January 5, 2025, eliminates the reduction previously applied to the railroad retirement annuities or social security benefits of individuals who also receive pensions from work not covered by social security.

The following questions and answers describe how the SSFA impacts the computation of railroad retirement annuities and provide information related to the law’s implementation.

Read more about Q&A: The Social Security Fairness Act and its Impact on Railroad Retirement Annuities

Q&A: Longevity of Railroad Retirement Annuitants

Read more about Q&A: Longevity of Railroad Retirement Annuitants

Q&A: Longevity of Railroad Retirement Annuitants

The RRB conducts a longevity study on the population of its retired customers every three years. Findings from the most recent study are outlined in this edition of our questions and answers series.

alt text: retired man fishing

/Newsroom/NewsReleases/Longevity

New Law Can Increase Payments to Recipients of Public Pensions

The Social Security Fairness Act, signed by the President on January 5, 2025, will end two statutory reductions for railroad retirees, their spouses, and survivors who are receiving public pensions from work not covered by social security. In cases where the reductions applied, the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) reduced the tier-I amount of the individual’s railroad retirement annuity, which is a social security equivalent benefit, due to receipt of such a pension.

Read more about New Law Can Increase Payments to Recipients of Public Pensions

Law Ends Reduction of Railroad Unemployment and Sickness Benefits

A recently approved law ended the reduction of unemployment and sickness benefits paid to railroad employees due to a budget sequestration requirement. The Railroad Employee Equity and Fairness (REEF) Act was incorporated into the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, which the President signed on December 23, 2024.

Read more about Law Ends Reduction of Railroad Unemployment and Sickness Benefits

2025 Reporting Summary - Labor Organizations

Read more about 2025 Reporting Summary - Labor Organizations

Track Laborer

Read more about Track Laborer

RRB Appoints De Luca as Chief Information Officer

The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has named Bob De Luca as its Chief Information Officer (CIO).

As CIO, Mr. De Luca will head the RRB’s Bureau of Information Services and its staff of about 100 employees and contractors. In addition, he will be responsible for planning, directing and coordinating the agency’s information technology program, including a comprehensive effort to modernize and re-engineer the agency’s business processes, along with related computer and network resources.

Read more about RRB Appoints De Luca as Chief Information Officer

RRB Operating Under Temporary Funding

Like other federal agencies, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has been operating under a continuing resolution since October 1, 2024, the start of fiscal year (FY) 2025. The temporary funding measure provides the agency with continuing appropriations of $27.9 million through December 20, 2024.

The continuing resolution avoided a potential governmentwide shutdown, as Congress was unable to reach agreement on FY 2025 spending bills before the beginning of the new fiscal year.