Prepared by Public Affairs 312-751-4777
Most railroad retirement annuities, like social security
benefits, are scheduled to increase in January 2009 on the basis of the rise in
the Consumer Price Index (CPI) during the 12 months preceding October 2008.
Cost-of-living increases are calculated in both the tier I and tier II benefits
included in a railroad retirement annuity. Tier I benefits, like social security
benefits, will increase by 5.8 percent, which is the percentage of the CPI rise.
Tier II benefits will increase by 1.9 percent, which is 32.5 percent of the CPI
rise. The vested dual benefit payments and supplemental annuities also paid by
the Railroad Retirement Board are not adjusted for the CPI rise.
In January 2009, the average regular railroad retirement employee annuity will
increase $92 a month to $2,101 and the average of combined benefits for an
employee and spouse will increase $126 a month to $2,956. For those aged
widow(er)s eligible for an increase, the average annuity will increase $55 a
month to $1,115. However, widow(er)s whose annuities are being paid under the
Railroad Retirement and Survivors’ Improvement Act of 2001 will not receive
annual cost-of-living adjustments until their annuity amount is exceeded by the
amount that would have been paid under prior law, counting all interim
cost-of-living increases otherwise payable. About 31 percent of the widow(er)s
on the Board’s rolls are being paid under the 2001 law.
If a railroad retirement or survivor annuitant also receives a social security
or other government benefit, such as a public service pension or another
railroad retirement annuity, the increased tier I benefit is reduced by the
increased government benefit. However, tier II cost-of-living increases are not
reduced by increases in other government benefits. If a widow(er) whose annuity
is being paid under the 2001 law is also entitled to an increased government
benefit, her or his railroad retirement survivor annuity may decrease.
However, the total amount of the combined railroad retirement widow(er)’s
annuity and other government benefits will not be less than the total payable
before the cost-of-living increase and before any increase in Medicare premium
deductions.
For most beneficiaries covered by Medicare, the standard Part B premium
generally deducted from monthly benefits will remain at the 2008 rate of $96.40
in 2009.
In late December the Railroad Retirement Board will mail notices to all
annuitants providing a breakdown of the annuity rates payable to them in January
2009.
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