If you are unemployed, you may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), the Federal agency responsible for administering the railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA).  This booklet provides information about the requirements for receiving railroad unemployment insurance benefits, the amount of benefits payable and procedures for claiming benefits.

You can file your application and claims online at the RRB's web site. To use online services you must have a PIN and Password (PPW) account. The Web site explains how to open a PPW account.

If you become sick or injured, you may be eligible to receive sickness benefits. Those benefits are described in a separate booklet (Booklet UB-11) which can be obtained from any RRB office, your employer, your labor organization, or the RRB’s Web site at www.rrb.gov.

Be sure to read the important notices at the back of this booklet about the Privacy Act, Paperwork Reduction Act, Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act, and the Rehabilitation Act..

This booklet contains general information and does not have the effect of law, regulation, or ruling. Certain exceptions, limitations, and special cases are not covered. If you have any questions about unemployment or sickness benefits, contact the nearest office of the RRB. When writing to the RRB, be sure to include your social security number.

Spanish translation booklets concerning railroad unemployment and sickness benefits are available from any office of the RRB. Tenemos un librete en Espanol que explica los beneficios de los desempleados del ferrocarril. Lo pueden obtener en su oficina mas cercana del RRB. Publicaciones en Espanol.