Railroad Board Seeks Comments on Death Benefit Paperwork
Published Date: 6/13/2025
Notice
Summary
The Railroad Retirement Board is asking for feedback on a form that helps people claim unpaid benefits when a railroad worker dies. This update aims to make the form clearer and easier to use, so folks can get their money without extra hassle. If you’re someone who might apply for these benefits, you’ve got 30 days to share your thoughts before the changes get final.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Updated employee certification form
The RRB proposes minor changes to Form G-346 (Employee's Certification) to the certification statement on page 2 and to the Paperwork Reduction Act contact information on page 3; no changes are proposed to Form G-346sum. Completion of G-346 or G-346sum is required to obtain a spouse annuity, and the RRB estimates 2,060 annual G-346 responses (5 minutes each = 172 hours) and 1,960 annual G-346sum responses (5 minutes each = 163 hours), totaling 4,020 responses and 335 burden hours per year.
Employer notices reinstated without change
The RRB is reinstating without change the RUIA Claims Notification and Verification System (Forms ID-4K and ID-4E) that notifies base-year employers when claims are filed and when claims are paid. Employers can receive notices by paper, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)/FTP, or online via the Employer Reporting System (ERS); the RRB estimates annual totals of 80,020 responses and 2,358 burden hours (for example, 63,000 ID-4K Internet responses and 15,600 ID-4K (FTP) responses).
Simpler claim form for death benefits
The Railroad Retirement Board proposes small edits to Form UI-63, Application for Benefits Due but Unpaid at Death, including replacing "his or her" with "their" on the cover letter and adding a "Telephone No." column in field 4 on page 2. This form must be completed to obtain accrued sickness or unemployment benefits after a railroad employee's death; the RRB estimates 30 annual responses, each taking 7 minutes (4 total burden hours). You have 30 days from the publication date to submit comments.
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Key Dates
Related Federal Register Documents
2025-23137 — Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; Notice of Computer Matching Program (Railroad Retirement Board and Social Security Administration, Match Number 1007)
Starting January 16, 2026, the Railroad Retirement Board and Social Security Administration will team up to share info and make sure benefits are paid right. This new computer matching program helps both agencies check records to prevent mistakes or fraud. It runs for 18 months, with a chance to extend, and affects anyone getting railroad or Social Security benefits.
2025-22996 — Proposed Collection; Comment Request
The Railroad Retirement Board wants your thoughts on their paperwork that helps prove marriage for spouse or widow(er) benefits. If you’re applying, you might fill out forms about your marriage status, but no changes to these forms are planned. They’re asking for comments now to make sure the process is clear and not too much work, with no extra costs or delays expected.
2025-17981 — Proposed Collection; Comment Request
The Railroad Retirement Board is asking for public feedback on their forms used to apply for survivor death benefits after a railroad worker passes away. They’re keeping most forms the same but updating one form to clarify who should be listed for prearranged funeral payments. If you’re involved in filing these benefits, now’s the time to share your thoughts—no cost changes, just clearer instructions!
2025-17475 — Eligibility for an Annuity and Family Relationships
The Railroad Retirement Board fixed unfair rules that treated husbands differently from wives when it comes to getting annuities for taking care of a railroad employee’s minor child. Now, both male and female spouses can receive annuities until the child turns 18, not 16. This change ensures equal treatment and protects your benefits starting right away.
2025-17322 — Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments
The Railroad Retirement Board is asking for public feedback on a form they use to track employee representatives’ status and pay. This helps make sure the form is clear, useful, and not too much work to fill out. If you’re an employee rep or work with one, your input matters—and you’ve got 30 days to share your thoughts before any changes happen.
2025-11453 — Proposed Collection; Comment Request
The Railroad Retirement Board wants your thoughts on a form railroad employers use every quarter to report and pay unemployment and sickness contributions for their workers. They’re checking if the form is clear, useful, and not too much work, and they’re open to ideas for making it easier—especially with tech. This affects railroad employers and keeps the system running smoothly without extra costs or delays.
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