| The Railroad Retirement Act essentially
replaces Social Security for railroad employees,
providing for the payment of retirement, disability and
survivor benefits. The Railroad Retirement Trust Fund
has a balance of approximately $16.5 billion. Currently
818,000 beneficiaries receive benefits, but 5% of beneficiary addresses
on file are not current. Despite
the fact over 40,000 entitled workers haven't filed
claims, virtually no effort is made to locate lost beneficiaries.
To qualify
for benefits an employee must have at least 120 months of
creditable railroad service. Service months need not be
consecutive, and in some cases military service may
count. Credit for a month of railroad service is given
for every month in which an employee has had some
compensated service, even if only one day's service is
performed during the month.
For those
needing assistance in tracing benefits arising from
railroad employment, go to:
Railroad
Retirement Benefit Search
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