Freedom of Information Act
Introduction | Frequently Requested Information |
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Annual FOIA Reports | Chief FOIA Officer Reports |
FOIA Requester Service Center | Questions and Answers |
FOIA Public Liaison | FOIA Request by Mail |
Introduction
The Railroad Retirement Board is required under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to disclose records requested in writing by any person. However, we may withhold information under certain exemptions and exclusions provided by the statute. Also, the Railroad Retirement Act, the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, and the Privacy Act restrict disclosure of information about individuals. FOIA applies only to federal agencies and does not create a right of access to records held by Congress, the courts, or by state or local government agencies.
Consult our Guide for Requesting FOIA Records if you plan to make a FOIA request. We also encourage you to browse Agency Overview, News Releases, Statistical Information, Benefit Forms and Publications, and Employer Forms and Publications located in the links to the left.
Additionally, pursuant to Executive Order 13392 entitled "Improving Agency Disclosure of Information," the RRB's FOIA Improvement Plan will make the processing of FOIA requests more streamlined and effective and increase public awareness of FOIA processing.
Annual FOIA Reports
Chief FOIA Officer Reports
Questions and Answers
What information is available without filing a FOIA request and where is it?
Information is available
- in the Federal Register
- the RRB's Reading Room
844 N. Rush St.
Chicago, IL 60611 - our website
- RRB Government Information Locator System (GILS) website.
See chart below for specific information and where located.
Who Can Request?
Any person may request agency records.
How to Request?
- Make request in writing, see item B. 3 in the Guide for Requesting FOIA Records
- State that the request is being made under the FOIA
- Mark both the envelope and contents, "Freedom of Information Request"
- Address your request to:
RRB Records | OIG Records |
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Chief FOIA Officer General Counsel Railroad Retirement Board 844 North Rush Street Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092 Fax: (312) 751-7102 |
Office of Inspector General FOIA Officer Railroad Retirement Board 844 North Rush Street Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092 Fax: (312) 751-4342 |
- Online
EFOIA
Is there a Fee?
RRB may charge fees, according to published fee schedules, for searching, reviewing, and copying records. Noncommercial requesters are not charged for the first 100 pages of document copying, or for the first two hours of search time. For more information see Guide for Requesting FOIA Records.
Frequently Requested Information Available Without Filing a FOIA Request
Available Information | Where Located |
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Descriptions of agency organization | Federal Register |
Procedures for the public to obtain information | |
Statements of agency function | |
Rules of procedure | |
Descriptions of agency forms | |
Substantive rules of general applicability and statements of general policy | |
Any changes in material required to be published | |
Agency procedure manuals | RRB Reading Room, Web Site |
Final decisions of the three-member Board which heads the agency | RRB Reading Room, Web Site |
Rulings of the Board | RRB Reading Room, Web Site |
Legal opinions | RRB Reading Room, Web Site |
Impac Credit Card Holders List | Web Site |
General information about the RRB | Web Site |
An inventory of the RRB's automated information systems | GILS |
How information is dispersed to other government agencies | |
Privacy Act System of Records | GILS, Web Site |