The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced that the standard monthly Part B premium will be $135.50 in 2019, a slight increase from $134.00 in 2018. However, some Medicare beneficiaries will pay slightly less than this amount. By law, Part B premiums for current enrollees cannot increase by more than the amount of
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
Starting October 1, 2018, the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will reduce railroad unemployment and sickness insurance benefits by 6.2 percent, down from the current 6.6 percent reduction, as required by law. The adjusted reduction amount is based on revised projections of benefit claims and payments under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act. It will remain
AAR and ASLRAA Request the Nomination of Thomas Jayne to the RRB In a joint letter to the President the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) recommended Thomas Jayne to serve as member of the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). The letter states: Dear Mr. President: On
Under the Railroad Retirement Act, a current connection with the railroad industry is one of the eligibility requirements for occupational disability annuities, and is one of the factors that determine whether the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) or the Social Security Administration has jurisdiction over the payment of monthly benefits to survivors of a railroad employee. It
Walt Barrows, the current labor member on the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), announced earlier this year that he would like to retire from the Board. John Bragg, currently a Vice President with the Brotherhood of Railway Signalmen (BRS) has expressed an interest in replacing Walt as the Labor Member. John has the support of the
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is required by law to submit annual financial reports and triennial actuarial valuations to Congress on the financial condition of the railroad retirement system, as well as annual financial reports on the railroad unemployment insurance system. These reports must also include recommendations for any financing changes which may be advisable
Railroad Retirement assets are managed and invested by the National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust, on which retired TCU Vice President Joel Parker serves. Click here to view the quarterly and annual reports on the RRB website. To learn more about the NRRIT, go to the website. Retired TCU VP Parker Serves as Chairman of
President Trump has nominated Erhard Chorlé to fill the position of Chairman of the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). Erhard R. Chorlé is a Partner in the firm Pedersen and Houpt in Chicago IL. He is part of the firm’s Corporate and Business Counseling Practice Group. He focuses his practice on providing corporate securities, regulatory and government advice
Railroad retirement benefits are subject to reduction if an employee with less than 30 years of service retires before attaining full retirement age. While employees with less than 30 years of service may still retire at age 62, the age at which full retirement benefits are payable has been gradually increasing since the year 2000,
