Benefits Under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act
Provided you meet the eligibility requirements, you may receive benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) after your actual date last worked. These benefits have no effect on your annuity beginning date. Your annuity can begin as early as the day after your actual date last worked. However, any RUIA benefits paid to you after your annuity beginning date will be recovered from your annuity accrual.
Sick Pay Under Certain Wage Continuation Plans
Any railroad sick pay, for months after your actual date last worked, that you received under certain wage continuation plans, other than being carried on the payroll at all or part of your regular pay, can be credited to your Tier 1 component for up to six months after your actual date last worked. But, this type of sick pay is not creditable as railroad service months to your Tier 2 component. The sick pay agreement must be established through a company policy or labor agreement.
Check your pay receipt for the period of sickness to determine if this provision applies to you. If the payment was subject to Tier 1, and not Tier 2 tax, the payment is sick pay and has no effect on your annuity beginning date. Your annuity can begin as early as the day after your actual date last worked. Examples of this type of payment are the Trustmark or Provident sick pay plans provided by some railroads.