Form RL-88r (04-12)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD
OFFICE OF PROGRAMS/POLICY & SYSTEMS
844 NORTH RUSH STREET

CURRENT

CHICAGO, IL 60611-2092
WWW.RRB.GOV
OFFICE HOURS: 9:00 AM TO 3:30 PM
MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY EXCEPT FEDERAL HOLIDAYS

TOLL-FREE NUMBER: 1-877-772-5772

,

The Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) provides for the payment of a supplemental annuity to an
employee annuitant who meets certain eligibility requirements. The RRA also requires that if the
employee receives a private pension from a railroad employer, the supplemental annuity must be
reduced by the amount of the pension attributable to the employer’s contributions.
A private railroad pension is defined in 20 CFR 216.42 of the Railroad Retirement Board’s (RRB)
regulations. The following are private railroad pensions.


A defined benefit plan.



A defined contribution plan, including a 401(k) savings plan, under which the railroad
employer is obligated to make fixed contributions to the plan regardless of profits. A defined
contribution plan under which the employer’s contributions are discretionary is not a private
railroad pension that will reduce the supplemental annuity.

The RRB is requesting information about any pension or 401(k) savings plan that maintains for its employees to determine if benefits from the plan will cause a reduction to
the supplemental annuities of covered employees. Our authority for requesting this information is
contained in 20 CFR 209.2 of the RRB’s regulations.
Please complete Form G-88r, Request for Information About New or Revised Employer Pension
Plan, for each private pension or 401(k) savings plan and return the completed form, along with a
copy of the plan or summary plan description, to:
U.S. Railroad Retirement Board
Policy and Systems
Attention: Mr. Jānis Sedlins
844 North Rush Street
Chicago, IL 60611-2092
You may copy the enclosed Form G-88r, if needed. You may also obtain Form G-88r, instructions
for completing the form, and additional information about supplemental annuities and private
railroad pensions from our website at http://www.rrb.gov/AandT/ERI/Part6/chapter6.asp.

RL-88r (04-12)

UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 2
If you have any questions about this request, please contact Mr. Jānis Sedlins of my staff by phone
at (312) 751-4808 or by e-mail at Janis.Sedlins@rrb.gov.

Sincerely,

Enclosure

RL-88r (04-12)