|
|
|
|
|
|
Program Letter 2009-04 |
To: Certification Contact Officials
Subject: National Rail Employer Training Seminar - Breakout Session Descriptions |
| Date: June
10, 2009 |
View
this document in PDF
|
| |
 .
We recommend using the latest version. |
|
.
for tools and information that will help make PDF files accessible. |
|
|
Prepared by the Quality
Reporting Service Center - (312) 751-4992 - QRSC@RRB.GOV
In alphabetical order by title
|
1.
|
Audits of Employers Conducted by RRB and IRS
- by Audit & Compliance Staff, RRB and IRS (Invited)
This session will
address both audits conducted by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the
Audit and Compliance division of the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). You will
receive advice on how to prepare for, and survive, an audit, as well as
information on audit authority, objectives, and scope. Coordination of
information between the RRB and IRS will be covered, along with disclosure,
confidentiality considerations, and other issues which cross agency lines. The
session will discuss some common findings and how you can be confident that you
are in compliance. |
|
2. |
Creditable Compensation:
Explanation Of More Complex Issues, Determinations, and Legal Opinions
-by Office of General
Counsel and Compensation and Employer Services Center (CESC) Staff, RRB8
- This session will
provide the legal view point on complex compensation issues and coverage
decisions. This session was designed for persons who have attended the previous
creditable compensation sessions and have a good understanding of the basics of
creditable compensation. |
|
3. |
CT-1 Tax
Issues (Invited) (New)
-by IRS CT-1 Specialist -
This session will address
Form CT-1 reporting issues. The session will also discuss the year-end
reconciliation of tax deposits. Common CT-1 questions and errors will be
addressed.
|
|
4. |
Disability Claims
Developments (New)
-by Ann Chaney, Management Member’s Office (MMO), RRB -
This session will review recent developments in Occupational Disability claims
processing and provide information on RRB policies and procedures.
|
|
5. |
Employee and Beneficiary
Internet Services
-by Policy and Systems
(P&S) Staff, RRB -
This session will provide
an overview of services currently available and will introduce applications
currently being planned for the employee site. |
|
6. |
Employer Coverage Issues
-by Robert Perbohner, MMO, RRB
- Do you wonder why some
railroads are not covered under the Railroad Retirement Act or why some
employers segregate their railroad business from their non-railroad business?
This session will provide the answers to these and many more coverage questions.
The session will discuss what constitutes coverage under the RRA and RUIA for
employers and individual employees, the use of contract services, and how
decisions are coordinated between RRB, IRS, and SSA.
|
|
7. |
Executive Session
-Jerome F. Kever and Staff
-
The Management Member of the
Board will share his thoughts on some of the challenges and
opportunities he sees for railroad retirement now and in the
future.
|
|
8. |
Experience Rating and
Pre-payment Verification
-by P&S and Field Service (FS) Staff, RRB -
This session will give you an overview of the Railroad
Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) claims process and a complete
look at the Experience Rating system from A to Z. You will learn
how your contribution rate is calculated and how the payment and
recovery of benefits impacts your rate. Finally, you will see
what actions you can take to improve your contribution rate.
|
|
9. |
Internet Services for
Employers: Pre & Post-Payment Verification and Compensation
Reports
-by CESC Staff, RRB -
This session will
demonstrate the services available to employers on the Employer
Reporting System (ERS) Internet site. The session will highlight
the benefits to employers in using this system, particularly in
providing information on the new ERS ID-4K, Pre-payment and
ID-4E, Post-payment forms.
|
|
10. |
Master the Basics I -
Creditable Compensation and Service
-by CESC Staff, RRB -
Master the Basics is for
anyone who is getting their feet wet in the world of railroad
retirement. This session will give you a working knowledge of
railroad retirement terminology and concepts. It will also
provide you with the foundational knowledge needed to better
understand Railroad Retirement Board’s (RRB) annual reporting
requirements. No question is considered too elementary.
|
|
11. |
Master the Basics II –
Filing Reports
-by CESC Staff, RRB
-
This session covers how to effectively complete the all
important service and compensation reports (BA-3, Annual Report;
BA-6a, Address Report; BA-9, Separation Report; and BA-11 Gross
Earnings Report) and how to determine and file a prior year
adjustment (BA-4, Adjustment report). In addition, alternate
filing methods for reports will be discussed, including the RRB
Employer Reporting System (ERS), FTP, the RRB PC Reporting
Program, and secure e-mail.
If reports are not properly filed, it can be costly for you
and the RRB to reconcile the problem and, in the meantime, your
employees may miss out on benefits. Filing accurate reports is
important and this session can help. |
|
12. |
Medicare Issues (New)
-by P&S Staff, RRB
- Persons covered by the railroad retirement system
participate in the Federal Medicare program on the same basis as those under the
Social Security system. This session will provide an overview of the Medicare
program and the RRB’s responsibilities in administering the program. The session
will also discuss the requirements for mandatory reporting by employers when
employees with Medicare are injured. |
|
13. |
Railroad Retirement Board’s
Field Service (New)
-by Field Service Staff, RRB
- Over the past year there
have been many changes within our Field Service. This session will provide
information on the change in the Field Service structure to establish Networks
which gives a group of field offices the ability to share work responsibilities;
the new Nationwide Toll-Free telephone service we have implemented; and how the
RRB Job Placement program can assist you. |
14a
and
14b. |
Retirement & Survivor
Annuities I & II
-by Joseph Waechter, MMO, RRB
- This session is intended
for those individuals covered under the Railroad Retirement Act, and for
individuals who work in the human resources area and handle employee questions
about benefits. The session will discuss eligibility for RRB annuities,
calculation of retirement and survivor benefits, and factors that affect
benefits. Educate yourself before making the all-important retirement decision! |
|
15. |
RRBVision – Instruction
Manuals and Training Videos on the RRB Website (New)
-by Assessment and Training (A&T) Staff, RRB
- In January 2008 we began
utilizing “Mediasite Live,” a platform to provide public access to RRB training
and informational videos through the RRB website, which we call RRBVision. This
session will provide an overview of videos currently available and discuss other
options for employers to get valuable information from our website. Your input
and ideas will be welcome! |
|
16. |
Service & Compensation
Reporting with a Purpose
-by P&S Staff, RRB
- In this session we will
reveal the distinct practices that will enable you to file superior service and
compensation reports. We will provide insight for developing the highly
effective practices needed for maximum readiness to: report for unemployment and
sickness claims; connect the new optional fields and reporting codes; and
explain their relationships and affect on your employees. Finally, this session
will unravel the decade’s long mystery of reporting the codes necessary for the
purpose of deeming service and discuss the cost savings realized by employers
and the RRB. |
|
17. |
Short Line & Regional
Railroad Issues
-by Eric O’Neill
- This session is
facilitated by Eric O’Neill from the American Short Line and Regional Railroad
Association. This session is an informal discussion which offers attendees a
chance to voice their opinions and make suggestions for changes they would like
to see. Attendees will also learn about new payroll accounting and reporting
opportunities available to Short Line employers. |
|
18. |
SSA Reporting Issues
-by SSA
- This session will
highlight new services for employers available through the Internet, common
errors in filing Forms W-2 and W-3 and how to avoid them, and how discrepancies
between taxes and earnings are reconciled. The session will explain the options
for employers to verify social security numbers of their employees and other
enumeration issues. |
|
19. |
Update on Making Tax
Payments and Reimbursements Electronically Using Pay.Gov and the Electronic
Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) (New)
-by Bureau of Fiscal Operations -Treasury and Debt Recovery Staff, RRB
- RRB staff will discuss
the switch for employers from RRBLink to EFTPS to pay their RRTA taxes effective
in January 2008. We will also demonstrate how employers with Internet access can
now use Pay.gov to file Form DC-1, Employer’s Quarterly Report of Contributions
under the RUIA which is used to make electronic deposits of RUIA taxes. This
session will also demonstrate how employers can use Pay.gov to reimburse the RRB
for unemployment and sickness benefits recoverable under Sections 2(f) and 12(o)
of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act. |
|
20. |
Watching Out for the RRB
Trust Funds - Office of Inspector General – Investigations (New)
-by Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, RRB
- Learn the role that
RRB’s IG has in investigating fraud and abuse and hear about some of the schemes
they have encountered, and cases they have pursued in the interest of protecting
the RRB’s trust fund resources. |
|
|
