Category Archives: Railroad Retirement

NRRIT QUARTERLY UPDATE FOR THE PERIOD ENDING MARCH 31, 2019

The National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust (the “Trust”) issues a Quarterly Update to provide current information on the Trust’s operations and activities relating to its investment operations. This update reports on the Trust’s activities for the quarter ending March 31, 2019. Copies of the Trust’s Annual Management Report and each Quarterly Update are available on

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RRB Release – Comparison of Benefits Under Railroad Retirement and Social Security

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

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Litigation Update – Payment for Time Lost Due to an On-the-job Injury is Taxable “Compensation”

The U.S. Supreme Court has issued its decision in BNSF v. Loos. In a 7-2 decision written by Justice Ginsburg, the Court found that a railroad’s payment to an employee as pay for time lost due to an on-the-job injury is taxable “compensation” under the Railroad Retirement Tax Act (RRTA). Historically, these payments were always

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RRB Q&A Release – RRB Reports Performance Under Customer Service Plan

The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board’s Customer Service Plan promotes the principles and objectives of customer-driven quality service agency-wide. The RRB’s plan lays out the standards and expresses the time frames in terms of when the agency is required to make its decision to pay or deny an application for benefits. The plan states specifically the

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TTD Release – Welcomes Railroad Retirement Board Members Commends Walt Barrows’ Service

In a recent release, Larry I. Willis, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) of which TCU is a member, issued the following statement:  “On behalf of our member unions, I want to congratulate the newest members of the Railroad Retirement Board confirmed by the Senate last night – Chairman Erhard R. Chorle, Management

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President Trump Nominates Johnathan Bragg and Thomas Jayne to the Railroad Retirement Board

President Donald J. Trump today announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key positions in his Administration: Johnathan Bragg of Virginia, to be a Member of the Railroad Retirement Board as Employee Representative, for the remainder of a five-year term expiring August 28, 2019, and an additional five-year term expiring August 28, 2024.

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Railroad Retiree Earnings Limits Increase in 2019

Railroad retirement annuitants subject to earnings restrictions can earn more in 2019 without having their benefits reduced as a result of increases in earnings limits indexed to average national wage increases. Like social security benefits, some railroad retirement benefit payments are subject to deductions if an annuitant’s earnings exceed certain exempt amounts. These earnings restrictions

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