1. |
Who will
receive the special extended unemployment benefits?
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Railroad workers who previously were not
eligible for extended unemployment benefits because they did not have 10
years of railroad service (120 cumulative service months) may be eligible
for up to 65 days within an extended period consisting of 7 consecutive
2-week registration periods.
And
Railroad workers who were previously eligible for extended unemployment
benefits of up to 65 days may now be eligible for extended benefits of up to
130 days within an extended period consisting of 13 consecutive 2-week
registration periods.
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2. |
I have 8
years of railroad service and I ran out of my normal unemployment benefits
on January 15, 2009. Am I eligible to receive the special extended
unemployment benefits?
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Yes, you would be eligible to receive up to 65
days within an extended period consisting of 7 consecutive 2-week
registration periods. Your extended benefit period would begin on January
16, 2009, and benefits would be payable provided that you were still
unemployed and ready, willing and able to work.
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3. |
I have 20
years of railroad service and I exhausted my extended unemployment benefits
on February 27, 2009. Am I eligible to receive the special extended
unemployment benefits?
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Yes, you would be eligible to receive an
additional 65 days within an extended period consisting of a total of 13
consecutive 2-week registration periods. Your extended benefit period would
last an additional 7 consecutive 2-week registration periods past February
27. Benefits would be payable provided that you were still unemployed and
ready, willing and able to work.
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4. |
What
effect will the new law have on sickness benefits?
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The extended unemployment benefit provisions
of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act apply only to unemployment
benefits. No additional extended sickness benefits are payable. If you have
less than 10 years of service, you are still not eligible for extended
sickness benefits. If you have 10 or more years of service, you are still
eligible to receive up to 65 days within an extended sickness benefit period
consisting of 7 consecutive 2-week registration periods.
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5. |
What must
I do to receive my special extended unemployment benefits?
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The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will mail
notices to eligible employees who previously exhausted their rights to
normal or extended unemployment benefits. The notice will provide them
information about their extended unemployment benefit period beginning and
ending dates. The RRB will also mail claim forms for days in the extended
period. If you do not receive a notice and you believe you are eligible for
these added benefits, you can contact your local RRB office as outlined
below.
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6. |
When will
my special extended unemployment benefit period begin?
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In general, your special extended unemployment
benefit period will begin the day after you exhausted any normal or regular
extended unemployment benefits.
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7. |
What is
the latest date that a special extended benefit period can begin?
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Special extended unemployment benefit periods
can begin no later than December 31, 2009.
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8. |
When will
my special extended unemployment benefits end?
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Special extended unemployment benefits are
being paid from the appropriation of $20 million provided by the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Payment of special unemployment benefits will
stop at the end of a person’s extended unemployment benefit period or when
the $20 million has been spent – whichever comes first.
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9. |
I returned
to work and am now unemployed again. Can my special extended unemployment
period beginning date be changed?
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It depends. Extended benefit periods are
frozen periods once they are established. If you exhausted normal benefits
and did not receive any extended unemployment benefits, we can change the
beginning date of your special extended unemployment benefit period. If,
however, you already received some extended unemployment benefits but are
now eligible for the additional 65 days, your extended benefit period
beginning date can’t be changed. Instead, we will change the ending date of
your extended period to allow for the payment of any additional days you may
be entitled to.
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10. |
How can I
file my claims?
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Upon receipt of the unemployment claims, you
may file your claims by mailing them to your local RRB office or by
filing
them over the Internet at www.rrb.gov. You will need to establish a
PIN/password to file your claims over the Internet.
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11. |
What is
the fastest way to get my benefits?
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Filing your claims over the Internet and
signing up for direct deposit help ensure faster delivery of your claims and
benefit payments. You should establish a PIN/password account at
www.rrb.gov
now so that you can file your claims over the Internet once you receive
notice that your extended period has been established.
In addition, please notify your local RRB office if you have moved or if
your bank account information has changed. Also, even if your
direct deposit information has not changed but you were last paid benefits
in 2008, call us to report this information again so we can pay your
benefits faster and safer electronically. You may contact your local RRB office
to sign up for direct deposit, make changes to your existing direct deposit
information and update your address.
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12. |
When will
you start paying these special benefits?
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Benefits paid under the Railroad Unemployment
Insurance Act are financed from taxes paid by railroad employers. However,
these special extended unemployment benefits are being paid specifically
from a $20 million appropriation provided under the Recovery Act
legislation. Many of our automated systems need to be changed to allow for
this exception. We are working on these changes and expect to begin paying
eligible individuals no later than June 30, 2009.
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13. |
What if I
exhaust all of my normal, regular extended and/or special extended
unemployment benefits?
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A new benefit year begins July 1, 2009. You
may receive unemployment benefits beginning July 1 or later if your railroad
earnings were at least $3,200 in calendar year 2008, counting no more than
$1,280 a month. You can obtain an application for benefits at your local RRB
office or file an application over the Internet at
www.rrb.gov. Applications
are also available through railroad employers and many labor organizations.
If you file for unemployment benefits, your application must be received
within 30 days of the first day for which you want to claim benefits, or you
may lose benefits.
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14. |
Will the
special extended unemployment benefits I receive because of the Recovery Act
count as income for federal income tax purposes?
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Yes. Under current law, all unemployment
benefits are subject to taxation. We will report the amount of the special
extended benefits you receive because of the Recovery Act on the Form 1099-G
you receive in January, along with all other railroad unemployment benefits
paid to you during the previous year. Under another provision of the
Recovery Act, however, there will be no federal income tax on the first
$2,400 of unemployment benefits paid to you in 2009. This special rule
applies only to unemployment benefits paid to you in 2009.
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15. |
How do I
get more information?
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Please call your local RRB office toll-free at
1-877-772-5772 (1-877-RRB-5RRB), or check our website at
www.rrb.gov for
further information.
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