We are about to begin the flu season and a flu vaccine is the best way to prevent infection and the complications associated with the flu. Vaccination is necessary each year because flu viruses change each year. The flu shot can be received once a year in either the fall or w [...]
This is a final effort to collect dependent Social Security numbers to comply with new federal law for all medical plans including: The Railroad Employees National Health and Welfare Plan; and The National Railway Carriers and United Transportation Health and Welfare Plan Fed [...]
One of the jewels of the Obama health care reform plan passed into law by Congress earlier this year allows certain dependent children to remain on an employee’s health care insurance plan until age 26 without regard to student, marital, residence of financial dependent statu [...]
If you retired from railroad service on or after April 1, 1967, you may be eligible for a $2,000 retiree life insurance benefit. Benefits are administered by MetLife for all retirees from railroads participating in the National Railway Carriers’ / UTU Health & Welfare Pla [...]
The summary plan description booklets for both the National Railway Carriers and UTU Health and Welfare Plan (NRC/UTU) and the Railroad Employees’ National Health and Welfare Plan are now available on the SMART TD website. Both booklets give information on the Comprehen [...]
Federal law now requires the reporting of Social Security numbers (SSNs) for covered dependents to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Employees who have not yet provided dependent SSNs will have their dependents’ coverage terminated on July 31. This [...]
If you are planning to retire in the coming months, you are sure to have concerns and many more questions. Understanding retirement benefits, Medicare and Medigap – and, especially, assuring you obtain all you are entitled to – is no simple task. There is help, however, and S [...]
The maximum daily benefit rate payable for claims under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act increases to $66 from $64 in the new benefit year, which begins July 1, reports the Railroad Retirement Board. Benefits are normally paid for the number of days of unemployment or [...]
Railroad retirement benefits are subject to reduction if an employee with less than 30 years of service retires before attaining full retirement age. While employees with less than 30 years of service may still retire at age 62, the age at which full retirement benefits are p [...]
A new benefit year for jobless and sickness benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act begins July 1, 2010, the Railroad Retirement Board reports. Administered by the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), this law provides two kinds of benefits for qualified railroader [...]
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