What is Railroad Retirement?
Railroad Retirement is a program similar to, but legislatively and administratively separate from, the Social Security system. The two systems (Social Security and Railroad Retirement) are closely coordinated with regard to earnings credits, benefit payments and taxes. Railroad Retirement provides retirement benefits and comprehensive survivor and unemployment-sickness programs for the nation’s railroad workers and their families. Railroad Retirement is administered by the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), an independent agency in the executive branch of the Federal Government. Key RRB responsibilities are defined under the federal Railroad Retirement and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Acts. The RRB also has administrative responsibilities under the Social Security Act for certain benefit payments and railroad workers’ Medicare coverage. ^Top Basic Benefits The Railroad Retirement Board administers retirement/survivor and unemployment/sickness insurance benefits for railroad workers an
