Policy and Systems

Job Placement Service

The RRB operates a free job placement service with the primary purpose of helping experienced railroad workers who have lost their jobs find new employment. When you apply for unemployment benefits, you also apply for employment service. You will be interviewed by an RRB representative who will try to help you find new employment. You may be referred by an RRB representative to a suitable railroad job; otherwise, an effort will be made to place you in a nonrailroad job for which you are qualified.

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Taxability of Unemployment Benefits

Unemployment benefits paid under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) are considered income for Federal income tax purposes. Each year, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) sends railroad employees Form 1099-G showing the total amount of unemployment benefits paid during the preceding calendar year. You must report that amount on your Federal income tax return.

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Employer Rights

The Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act requires the RRB to notify your base year employer(s) each time you file a claim for benefits, and to give the employer(s) an opportunity to submit information relevant to your claim before the RRB makes an initial determination on the claim. The RRB must also notify your employer each time benefits are paid to you. Your employer may appeal the decision to pay benefits. The appeal does not prevent the timely payment of benefits. However, you may be required to repay benefits if the appeal is successful.

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Employee Rights

Reconsideration - If you do not agree with any decision denying you benefits or with an overpayment decision, you may request reconsideration. Your request must be in writing and should explain why you disagree. If you request reconsideration, your request must be received at an office of the RRB within 60 days of the date of the letter notifying you of the adverse decision. Be sure to sign your name and include your social security number on your reque

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Reconsideration and Waiver

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Special Rules for Train and Engine Service and Passenger Service

For employees in train and engine service and passenger service, benefits are not payable for:

Standby and Layover––Days on which you are standing by for or laying over between regular assigned trips. For example, if an engineer has a regular assignment that runs every third day, the days between the regular runs do not count as days of unemployment.

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Benefits Under Other Laws

You will be disqualified from receiving railroad unemployment insurance benefits for any day for which you

receive unemployment benefits under any other law; or
receive sickness benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act or any similar law.

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False or Fraudulent Claim

You will be disqualified for both unemployment and sickness benefits for 75 days if you make a false or fraudulent statement or claim in order to receive benefits. You may also be subject to fine or imprisonment. The RRB conducts checks, including computer matching checks, with State and Federal agencies as well as railroads, in order to detect fraudulent benefit claims.

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Illegal Strike

You will be disqualified for unemployment benefits for any day on which you take part in a strike which began in violation of the Railway Labor Act or in violation of the established rules and practices of your labor organization.

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Repayments

A repayment is a returned payment, a cash refund, or an amount withheld for overpayment purposes.

Under the Internal Revenue Code, the RRB is allowed to give repayment credit for the SSEB and/or pre-SSEB portion of tier I for any tax year. Refer to IRS Publication 915, "Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits", for information regarding current tax year or prior tax year's SSEB repayment.

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