Text Version:  Claiming Sickness Benefits

• Secure and complete employee's portion of sickness application.
• Have doctor complete doctor's portion promptly.
• Mail form to the RRB in Chicago within 7 days of becoming sick or injured.
• Claim forms then mailed to employee and returned to local RRB field office; also available for completion online.

Notes:

• Applications received after 10 days but within 30 days of first day for which employee wishes to claim benefits are generally considered timely filed if there is a good reason for the delay.
• Claims must be received at the RRB within 30 days of the last day of the claim period, or within 30 days of the date the claim form was mailed to the claimant or made available online, whichever is later.
• Initial sickness claim must begin with 4 consecutive days of sickness and contain at least 5 days of sickness in order to satisfy waiting period.
• Most delays in sickness benefit payments occur because doctors do not complete and submit forms promptly. This applies to the initial doctor's form, as well as subsequent forms needed to continue payments.
• Claimants required to enroll in Direct Deposit.
• Applications and doctors' statements must be submitted by mail.
• To file claims electronically, employees must first establish an RRB online account. For security purposes, first-time users must apply for a Password Request Code, which they will receive by regular mail in about 10 business days. To do this, employees should click on the link for requesting a Password Request Code (PRC) located in the Benefit Online Services Login section of the www.rrb.gov home page. The information claimants provide must match the information in the RRB's records.