UPDATE ON EXTENDED RAIL UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
Posted by Lou on May 1, 2009
Members laid-off from railroad carriers and who have exhausted – or nearing exhaustion – of Railroad Unemployment benefits are concerned as to when the extended benefits enacted into law by Congress will begin to be paid.
The short answer, says the Railroad Retirement Board, is no later than June 30.
The reason for the delay, according to the board, is that while Congress authorized the extended unemployment benefits for rail workers and appropriated the funds, the process for making the payments is different than making so-called normal unemployment benefits.
Specifically, while so-called normal Railroad Unemployment benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act are funded solely by the carriers through payroll taxes, the extended benefits are funded solely through a special $20 million appropriation contained in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Before it can pay the extended benefits, the Railroad Retirement Board says it must first “develop, test and implement totally different processing and accounting systems,” and that the effort is “an agency priority.”
In fact, the Railroad Retirement Board sent letters on April 24 to potentially eligible railroaders explaining extended unemployment benefits eligibility, and providing an explanation as to the delay in making the payments.
The most current information is available at the Railroad Retirement Board Web site, in the form of questions and answers about extended Railroad Unemployment benefits. Those questions and answers may be viewed at the following Web address:
www.rrb.gov/recovery/faq_ext_ruia.asp
Extended unemployment Benefits
Posted by Lou on Mar 5, 2009
New Economic Recovery Legislation Affects Railroad Retirement Annuitants and Railroad Workers
Good news for all of us running out of Rail Road Unemployment Benefits. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, signed by President Obama, spools us a little bit more hope into our wallets. As announced by the RRB perhaps from May 2009 on we will get a one time $250 and a 13 weeks extension for our Unemployment Benefits. There is a PDF-Document in my Download Section that gives you more information. On the RRB Phone Line are some information’s, too. The Number to call is (877) 772-5772. Not much information on that Tape but, hey, start to make more room in your Fridge. The Link to their Web Site is www.rrb.gov. Hope this information helps and let’s look forward for May.
The United States Department of Labor said : Extended Benefits are available to workers who have exhausted regular unemployment insurance benefits during periods of high unemployment. The basic Extended Benefits program provides up to 13 additional weeks of benefits when a State is experiencing high unemployment. Some States have also enacted a voluntary program to pay up to 7 additional weeks (20 weeks maximum) of Extended Benefits during periods of extremely high unemployment.
More Information avail at NELP, the National Employment Law Project, and from Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of Government. Don’t forget to visit the Kid’s Page, Nancy’s Grandaughter talks about her eating habbits. Somehow, if you can’t see anything on their Web Site click on the ‘Adjust Text Size Button’ – worked for me.
