Employers and employees covered by the Railroad Retirement Act pay higher retirement taxes than those covered by the Social Security Act, so that railroad retirement benefits remain higher than social security benefits, especially for career employees who have 30 or more years of service.
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has released a questions and answers that shows the differences in railroad retirement and social security benefits payable at the close of the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017. They also show the differences in age requirements and payroll taxes under the two systems.
Click here to read the full release from the RRB.