| 1. |
Who will
receive a one-time economic recovery payment from the Railroad Retirement
Board (RRB)?
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| |
Nearly 540,000 railroad retirement
beneficiaries will receive a one-time payment of $250 each. To receive a
payment, the beneficiary’s address of record must be in one of the 50
states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin
Islands, American Samoa, or the Northern Mariana Islands.
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| 2. |
Are
beneficiaries from other federal programs eligible for this one-time
economic recovery payment?
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| |
Yes, individuals receiving certain benefits
from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Social Security
Administration (SSA) may be eligible for these one-time payments.
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| 3. |
Are
individuals entitled to more than a single one-time economic recovery
payment?
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| |
No, individuals may receive only one $250
payment regardless of how many types of benefits they receive.
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| 4. |
Who
decides whether I get a one-time economic recovery payment?
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| |
The RRB, VA and SSA will determine who's
eligible under their respective programs.
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| 5. |
If I
receive railroad retirement benefits as well as social security benefits,
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments or VA benefits, who decides whether I
get an economic recovery payment?
|
| |
If you receive benefits from the RRB and
another federal agency, the RRB will determine if you are entitled to the
payment. Remember, you will receive only one payment regardless of how many
different benefits you currently receive.
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| 6. |
When can I
expect to receive my one-time economic recovery payment?
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| |
We plan to pay all eligible railroad
retirement beneficiaries by late May 2009, so you should expect to receive
your payment no later than the first week of June 2009. The one-time payment
will be a separate payment, which will not be included in your regular
monthly benefit payment.
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| 7. |
How will I
receive my one-time economic recovery payment?
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| |
We will deliver your payment in the same way
we currently deliver your railroad retirement benefit. If you receive a
monthly direct deposit, that is how you will receive your one-time payment.
If we deliver your monthly benefit by check, we will deliver your one-time
payment by check.
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| 8. |
What must
I do to receive my one-time economic recovery payment?
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| |
No action is necessary. We have all the
information we need to get your payment to you.
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| 9. |
My spouse
and I both receive railroad retirement benefits; will we each get a one-time
recovery payment?
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| |
Yes, if you are married and both you and your
spouse are receiving benefits from the RRB, you will each get the one-time
payment.
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| 10. |
I became
eligible for benefits in February 2009. Will I receive the one-time economic
recovery payment?
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| |
No. Only individuals eligible for railroad
retirement, social security, SSI or veteran’s
disability benefits at any time during the months of November 2008, December
2008, or January 2009 can receive the one-time payment.
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| 11. |
Are
children who receive railroad retirement benefits eligible for the one-time
economic recovery payment?
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| |
No, children under the age of 18 (19 if still
in high school) who receive railroad retirement benefits are NOT eligible
for the one-time payment. However, disabled adult children will receive a
payment.
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| 12. |
Will the
one-time economic recovery payment count as gross income for federal income
tax purposes?
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| |
No, it will not. The amount of the one-time
payment will not appear on your RRB-1099 tax statement.
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| 13. |
Will the
one-time economic recovery payment count as income when determining
eligibility for extra help with Medicare prescription drug plan costs?
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No, it will not.
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| 14. |
Will I
receive a one-time economic recovery payment if I have a delinquent federal
debt?
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| |
The law requires the U. S. Department of the
Treasury to offset the one-time payments to collect delinquent child support
and debts owed to state and federal agencies.
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| 15. |
Will the
one-time economic recovery payment change the amount or delivery date of my
regular railroad retirement benefit?
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| |
No, the one-time payment will have NO effect
on your regular railroad retirement benefit. We will deliver the one-time
payment separately from your regular benefit.
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| 16. |
If I have
a representative payee, who will receive my one-time economic recovery
payment?
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| |
If you have a representative payee, we will
deliver your one-time payment to your representative payee. Your
representative payee is required by law to use the payment for your benefit.
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| 17. |
If I don’t
receive my one-time economic recovery payment during the first week of June,
what should I do?
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| |
After June 8, 2009, you may call the RRB
toll-free at 1-877-772-5772 (1-877-RRB-5RRB) to tell us your payment has not
arrived. Please wait until then to ask about your payment because earlier
calls may slow our service to you.
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