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DISTRICT LODGE 19
NEWS

Benefit Rate Increase for Railroad Unemployment and Sickness Benefits
PR 09-6 June 2009	View this document in PDF

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Prepared by Public Affairs 312-751-4777

The maximum daily benefit rate payable for claims under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act increases to $64 from $61 in the new benefit year, which begins July 1, 2009. Benefits are normally paid for the number of days of unemployment or sickness over four in 14-day registration periods, so maximum benefits for biweekly claims will total $640.

During the first 14-day claim period in a benefit year, benefits are payable for each day of unemployment or sickness in excess of seven, rather than four, which, in effect, provides a one-week waiting period. Initial sickness claims must also begin with four consecutive days of sickness. However, only one waiting period is required during any period of continuing unemployment or sickness, even if that period continues into a subsequent benefit year. Claimants already on the rolls will, therefore, normally not be required to serve another waiting period because of the onset of the new benefit year.

To qualify for normal railroad unemployment or sickness benefits in the benefit year beginning July 1, 2009, an employee must have had railroad earnings of at least $3,200 in calendar year 2008, not counting more than $1,280 for any month. Those who were first employed in the rail industry in 2008 must also have at least five months of creditable railroad service in 2008.

Under certain conditions, employees with 10 or more years of service who do not qualify in the new benefit year on the basis of their 2008 earnings may still be able to receive benefits after June 30, 2009. Ten-year employees who received normal benefits in the benefit year ending June 30, 2009, might still be eligible for extended benefits, and ten-year employees may be eligible for accelerated benefits if they have rail earnings of at least $3,325 in 2009, not counting earnings of more than $1,330 a month.

Application forms for unemployment and sickness benefits may be obtained from railroad employers, railroad labor organizations, any Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) office, or the agency’s Web site at www.rrb.gov. Also, as an alternative to applying for unemployment benefits through the mail, unemployment claimants can instead file applications online. Likewise, subsequent biweekly claims for unemployment benefits may be filed online rather than through the mail and employees can also access information about their individual railroad unemployment insurance account statements online. These account statements provide a summary of the unemployment and sickness benefits paid under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act to rail employees.

To access these online services, employees must first establish an RRB Internet Services account. For security purposes, first time users must apply for a Password Request Code, which they will receive by mail in about 10 business days. To do this, employees should click on “Benefit Online Services” and select “request a PRC.” Once employees establish their online accounts, they will be able to file their applications and biweekly claims for unemployment benefits as well as conduct other business with the RRB over the Internet. Employees are encouraged to initiate an online account while still employed so the account is established if they ever need to use these or other select RRB Internet services. Employees who have already established online accounts do not need to do so again. Although claimants cannot currently file applications or biweekly claims for railroad sickness benefits over the Internet, the RRB is planning to add the online filing of sickness claims in the future.

Claimants with questions about unemployment or sickness benefits should contact an RRB office by calling toll free at 1-877-772-5772. Claimants can also find the address of the RRB office serving their area and get information about their claims and benefit payments by calling this toll-free number. Most RRB offices are open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal holidays. Field office locations can also be found by visiting www.rrb.gov.

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(The following story by Jim Matheny appeared on the 10 News website on May 27, 2009.)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — 10 News has obtained Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce documents that outline a $133 million private-public partnership with Norfolk Southern to build an intermodal rail-and-truck transport facility.

The plans have taken many residents by surprise as conceptual drawings show the terminal built on their property.

The "Jefferson County Intermodal and Logistic Project Review" document is dated March 17, 2009, and includes an evaluation of the regional impacts of a truck-rail intermodal facility. The evaluation was conducted by the University of Tennessee's Center for Transportation Research.

A conceptual drawing by Norfolk Southern places the facility along Highway 11 near New Market where rail lines already exist. The 1,000 acre terminal would allow commercial trucks and locomotives to transfer cargo along Norfolk Southern's proposed "Crescent Corridor."

The conceptual drawing places the site on at least 30 acres of Harvey Young's cattle farm. Young said he does not oppose the concept of an intermodal transport terminal, but believes it should not come at the exp ense of green space and active farmland.

"There are already vacated industrial sites along the rail line in Jefferson County that could be used instead of taking farmland," said Young. "These intermodal deals are supposed to benefit the environment, so it makes no sense to sacrifice green space to build an industrial site beside other vacant brown spaces."

Young said when he first heard rumors of the project he assumed it would be at a dormant Magnavox industrial site in Jefferson County or the Knoxville John Sevier Yards. Then he saw the conceptual drawing that placed the site on his land near Highway 11.

"It's that empty feeling people must have felt when TVA and others took their land to build the dams," said Young. "It was a depressing thing to think they want to take something I have been working 10 years to build up and that I enjoy doing when I think I'm starting to accomplish something."

A Norfolk Southern spokesperson told 10 News the corridor project allows cargo such as food, electronics, and other consumer products to be shipped long distances via rail and short distances via truck. The railway plans to construct several intermodal terminals along a route that begins in New Jersey, continues through east Tennessee, and eventually ends in Memphis. However, the spokesperson said no firm plans for a site in Jefferson County have been finalized.

Norfolk Southern hopes to complete the corridor within the next 10 years and says it could remove one million tran sfer trucks from the highways. The evaluation by UT said the terminal would open in 2014 and could create almost 15,000 jobs in the region by the year 2025.

Young said a developer with ProVenture in Nashville has contacted his neighbors about buying land for the project.

A Norfolk Southern spokesperson would neither confirm nor deny the involvement of developers, saying the company has a standard practice of maintaining confidentiality with all real estate dealings.

Young said he has no plans to sell and only imminent domain can force him to give up a chunk of his farm and dreams.

"Some folks will sell their land because they are afraid of condemnation or being undercut." Young added, "The way they are going to get this [my] land is they are going to have to condemn it."

Young said no officials with the county's industrial board, chamber of commerce, or other entities have made the plans public or sought input from land owners to date.

"It is just typical local politics with somebody trying to push a plan through the backdoor," said Young. "You're talking about a project that takes over 450 acres of farm land and some of these farms have been in the same family for more than 150 years. There has to be a better location with less risk of environmental damage."

10 News made several attempts to reach Don Cason, president of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, on Friday and Tuesday. As of this writing, our phone calls have not been re turned. Messages left with the Jefferson County mayor have also not been returned as of yet.
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BNSF Furloughs More than 100
Mechanical Employees

ALLIANCE, Neb. — More than 100 employees of the BNSF mechanical department in the western Nebraska city of Alliance have been furloughed because of a decrease in rail traffic, the Associated Press reports.

BNSF spokesman Steve Forsberg says workers were told of the furloughs Tuesday. He says employees will be called back to work once rail traffic picks up.

Forsberg says BNSF trains have not been hauling as much coal in recent months because of decreasing demand. Many companies are cutting back on their use of electricity.

Forsberg says that even with the furloughs, BNSF still employees about 1,600 people in Alliance.
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Financial, Actuarial & Statistical

Earnings Limits, Tax Rates & COLA's

Automatic Increases: COLAs & Wage Indexed Amounts

Railroad Retirement Act

January 2009 Cost-of-Living Increase

Tier I Benefit	5.8%
Tier II Benefit	1.9%

2007 National Average Wage Index

$40,405.48

2009 Maximum Taxable Railroad Earnings

Tier I Earnings Limit	$106,800
Tier II Earnings Limit	$79,200
HI Earnings Limit	No Limit

2009 Bend Points for Primary Insurance Amount Calculation

1^st Bend Point	$744
2^nd Bend Point	$4,483

2009 Bend Points for Family Maximum Calculation

1^st Bend Point	$950
2^nd Bend Point	$1,372
3^rd Bend Point	$1,789

2009 Retirement Earnings Test Exempt Amounts

Less than full retirement age in calendar year

Monthly	$1,180
Annual	$14,160

Full retirement age attained in calendar year, for months prior to such attainment

Monthly	$3,140
Annual	$37,680

2009 Earnings Required for a Quarter of Coverage

$1,090

2009 Monthly Amounts For Substantial Gainful Activity

Blind Beneficiaries	$1,640
Non-Blind Disabled Beneficiaries	$980

2009 Monthly Earnings Threshold for Trial Work Period	$700
2009 Monthly Disability Earnings Limit	$770

Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act

2009 Monthly Compensation Base

$1,330.00

2009 Base Year Minimum Qualifying Compensation, and
Other Items Equal to 2.5 Times the Monthly Compensation Base

$3,325.00

2009 Base Year Maximum Monthly Compensation
Considered For Maximum Benefit Calculation

$1,718.00

Maximum Daily Benefit Rate for Benefit Year Beginning

July 2009	$64
July 2010	$66

Medicare

2009 Part A Deductible

$1,068.00

2009 Part B Monthly Standard Premium

$96.40

2009 Part B Annual Deductible

$135.00

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