Program Letter - 08-05

Program
Letter

United States
Railroad Retirement Board
Office of Programs

Quality Reporting Service Center
E-Mail: QRSC@rrb.gov
Letter No. 2008-05

TO:

Phone: (312) 751-4992
Fax: (312) 751-7123
Date: December 27, 2007
[Revised March 7, 2018]

Certification Contact Officials

SUBJECT: FTP and E-mail Submission of Reporting Forms
Form BA-3, Annual Report of Creditable Compensation
Form BA-4, Report of Creditable Compensation Adjustments
Form BA-6a, Form BA-6 Address Report
Form BA-9, Report of Separation Allowance or Severance Pay
Form BA-11, Report of Gross Earnings

Please share this information with members of your staff who file the forms listed above, as
well as programming staff who support these functions.
Background
Service and compensation information for employees who work for employers covered under the
Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), are maintained by the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) for the
purpose of administering the RRA and Railroad Unemployment and Insurance Act (RUIA).
Employee address records are maintained by the RRB for the purpose of mailing Form BA-6,
Certificate of Service Months and Compensation, to those same employees.
Covered employers are required, by the last day of February, to submit Form BA-3, Annual
Report of Creditable Compensation, for all employees who performed compensated service in
the previous year and Form BA-11, Report of Gross Earnings, for all employees whose social
security number ends with the digits “30.” Employers may also submit employee mailing
addresses on annual Form BA-3 (rather than submitting a separate Form BA-6a, Form BA-6
Address Report). Employers are also required to submit Form BA-4, Report of Creditable
Compensation Adjustments, as necessary to report adjustments to previously submitted service
and compensation reports. Additionally, employers are required to submit Form BA-9, Report of
Separation Allowance and Severance Pay, when such payments are made to employees.
New Reporting Options
The RRB now offers file transfer protocol (FTP) interchange and e-mail as options for
submitting Form BA-3, BA-4, BA-6a, BA-9 and BA-11 report files. The new options may be
used starting with the reporting season that begins January 1, 2008. New record layouts are also
effective as of January 1, 2008. (See Attachments A through E.) Information on accurate data
content and format is available in the Employer Reporting Instructions.
UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 1

Privacy and Security Considerations
Because RRB reporting forms contain sensitive personal information such as social security
numbers, we must exchange information securely to ensure that no one can intercept and read or
alter the information. Accordingly, we are required to take security precautions that meet
standards currently prescribed by the National Institute of Standards (NIST).
FTP Interchange
 What is FTP and how does it work?
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is used to transfer files between two computers by sending
data over a data communications network such as the Internet.
FTP transfers require a FTP server and a FTP client. The FTP server continuously waits
or “listens” for incoming connection requests that are initiated by FTP clients. In order to
complete the connection, the FTP server will require the FTP client to authenticate itself
by providing a valid set of credentials; typically a valid username and password. If the
credentials supplied to the server by the client are valid, the FTP server will allow the
connection to be completed. Once the connection is completed, the client may download
files from the FTP server, upload files to the FTP server or modify existing files on the
server depending on the FTP server’s access controls and existing agreements between
the participating parties.
 How will FTP protect data?
To ensure the confidentiality of personally identifiable data such as social security
numbers, the RRB requires Secure FTP (SFTP) data transfers. We also prefer to use
Open PGP encryption utilizing a Public/Private key pair to ensure that the data is
encrypted at all times. SFTP uses an encrypted connection on TCP port 22. Generally,
the process involves the reporting employer creating a public/private encryption key pair
and sending the public key to the RRB for authentication purposes. If the employer
wanted the RRB to send the output files back to one of their servers, then the RRB would
also create a public/private key pair and send the RRB’s public key as well.
 How is an FTP Interchange with the RRB established?
The first step in this process is for the RRB and each interested employer to agree upon
and then implement the specific procedures and programming needed to allow FTP
interchanges. The most likely method will be via the Internet. The employer would then
act as the “server” and the RRB would act as the “client.” RRB personnel in the
Compensation and Employer Service Center (CESC) would be provided access to the
railroad’s secure FTP server through a designated user ID and password. Once the
applicable compensation/service information is ready to be conveyed to the RRB via the
reporting forms, the employer would fax a completed Form G-440, Reports Specification
Sheet (which must be signed by an authorized employer official), to notify CESC of a
pending report. The RRB would then use desktop FTP software to access and download
the information at an agreed-upon time and location. You may contact the Quality
Reporting Service Center of CESC for additional information or instructions on
implementing FTP exchanges with the RRB. The e mail address and telephone number
are shown at the top of this letter.
UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 2

E-mail Submissions
 Why use secure e-mail?
Because the forms contain sensitive personal information such as social security
numbers, we must exchange information securely to insure that no one can intercept and
read or alter the information. To meet NIST security requirements, all e-mail messages
we exchange must be encrypted and signed with a Digital ID, and information will be
protected in accordance with security controls outlined in NIST guidance 800-53.
 Why do I need a Digital ID or certificate?
A Digital ID or certificate is a computer file that identifies the sender. E-mail software
uses this file to "digitally" sign e-mail messages to prove a sender’s identity to the
recipient’s computer.
A digital signature does two things:
• It lets the recipient of the e-mail confirm the identity of the sender, and
• It tells the recipient that the e-mail was not tampered with in transit.
A Digital ID typically contains the following information:
• Your public key
• Your name and e-mail address Expiration date of the public key
• Name of the company [Certification Authority (CA)] who issued your Digital ID
• Serial number of the Digital ID
• Digital signature of the CA
 How will encryption protect data?
To encrypt (scramble) data we use a system with two keys. The key pair consists of a
public and a private key. The keys are used like keys in a lock, except the key pair
requires one key to secure the lock and another to open the lock.
When you request and install a Digital ID, your Web browser creates both a private key
that can only be used with the Digital ID you requested, and a public key that becomes
part of your Digital ID. Access to your private key will be password protected.
With key pairs, your e-mail application will use the RRB’s public key to encrypt
messages you send to us. The RRB, upon receipt of your encrypted e-mail message, will
use our matching private key to decrypt the message.
 How do I exchange a secure e-mail with the RRB?
Before you can send the RRB an encrypted message, you must first get our public key.
You do this by simply requesting we send you a signed e-mail message, which contains
our Digital ID and public key. Then your e-mail application can automatically store the
RRB’s Digital ID with public key in your contacts folder until you need to use it. Your
e-mail application uses the RRB public key to encrypt the messages you send to us.
From that point on, only the RRB's private key can decrypt the message.
When the RRB sends you an encrypted message, we will use your public key. Once the e
mail message is encrypted with your public key, only those individuals in your
organization who have the matching private key can decrypt the message.
UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 3

Steps:
1. Acquire a Digital ID from a company called a Certification Authority (CA), for
example, Verisign or Thawte Certification. The cost of an individual Digital ID is
about $20.00 per year.
2. Once you have received and installed a Digital ID, distribute it to the RRB by sending
an e-mail message to the cesc@rrb.gov mailbox. The Digital ID that you send
contains your public key. This will allow the RRB to send you encrypted e-mail
messages using your public key. Only you will have the corresponding private key
that allows you to decrypt the RRB reply.
3. The RRB will acknowledge your e-mail submission by sending you our public key
for the cesc@rrb.gov mailbox. This will allow you to send encrypted e-mail requests
containing the RRB’s public key. Only the RRB will have the corresponding private
key to decrypt the e-mail message.
4. Once the parties have stored each other’s Digital IDs, all further e-mail exchanges can
be made securely.
Please follow the same provisions regarding completion and submission of Form G-440 as
previously described.
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) Notice
Federal agencies may not conduct or sponsor, and respondents are not required to respond to,
any collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB number. If you wish, send
comments regarding the accuracy of our estimates or any other aspect of these forms, including
suggestions for reducing completion time, to Associate Chief Information Officer for Policy and
Compliance, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 N. Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611-1275.
 Form BA-3
The information contained in this report (see Attachment A), which is required by law
under Section 9 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) and Section 6 of the Railroad
Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA), is needed to pay RRA and RUIA benefits and is
authorized for collection under OMB control number 3220-0008 . This report is due at
the Railroad Retirement Board by no later than the last day of February after the report
year. Failure to report or the making of a false or fraudulent report can result in criminal
prosecution or civil penalties, or both. We estimate the electronic version of this form,
transmitted by e-mail or FTP, takes an average of 46.25 hours per response to complete,
including time for reviewing the instructions, getting the needed data, and reviewing the
completed form.
 Form BA-4
The information contained in this report (see Attachment B), which is required by law
under Section 9 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) and Section 6 of the Railroad
Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA), is needed to adjust compensation and service
creditable under the RRA and RUIA and is authorized for collection under OMB control
number 3220-0008. Failure to report or the making of a false or fraudulent report can
UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 4

result in criminal prosecution or civil penalties, or both. We estimate the electronic
version of this form, transmitted by e-mail or FTP, takes an average of 1 hour per
response to complete, including time for reviewing the instructions, getting the needed
data, and reviewing the completed form.
 Form BA-6a
The information specified on this form (see Attachment C), which is required by law
under Section 7(b)(6) of the Railroad Retirement Act and Section 209.12 of the Code of
Federal Regulations and is authorized for collection under OMB control number 32200005, will be used by the Railroad Retirement Board to mail to the employees of your
company Form BA 6, Certificate of Service Months and Compensation. Failure to report
or the making of a false or fraudulent report can result in criminal prosecution or civil
penalties or both. We estimate the electronic version of this form, transmitted by e-mail
or FTP, takes an average of 15 minutes per response to complete, including time for
reviewing the instructions, getting the needed data, and reviewing the completed form.
 Form BA-9
The information contained in this report (see Attachment D), which is required by law
under Section 9 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) and Section 6 of the Railroad
Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) and is authorized for collection under OMB
control number 3220 0173, is needed for two purposes: to establish eligibility for an
additional lump-sum amount under the RRA and to establish a disqualification period
under the RUIA. Failure to report or the making of a false or fraudulent report can result
in criminal prosecution or civil penalties, or both. We estimate the electronic version of
this form, transmitted by e-mail or FTP, takes an average of 1.25 hours per response to
complete, including time for reviewing the instructions, getting the needed data, and
reviewing the completed form.
 Form BA-11
The purpose of this report (see Attachment E), which is required by Section 7(b)(6) of the
Railroad Retirement Act and is authorized for collection under OMB control number
3220 0132, is to obtain the gross earnings for a sample of employees. This information is
required for computation of the Financial Interchange with the Social Security
Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The report is due at
the Railroad Retirement Board by no later than the last day of February following the
report year. Failure to report or the making of a false or fraudulent report can result in
criminal prosecution or civil penalties, or both. We estimate the electronic version of this
form, transmitted by e-mail or FTP, takes an average of 30 minutes per response to
complete, including time for reviewing the instructions, getting the needed data, and
reviewing the completed form.
Attachments to This Letter
Attachment A: Electronic file format for Form BA-3, Annual Report of Creditable Compensation
Attachment B: Electronic file format for Form BA-4, Report of Creditable Compensation Adjustments
Attachment C: Electronic file format for Form BA-6a, Form BA-6 Address Report
Attachment D: Electronic file format for Form BA-9, Report of Separation Allowance or
Severance Pay
Attachment E Electronic file format for Form BA-11, Report of Gross Earnings
###
UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 5

RRB Program Letter 2008-05, Attachment A
Electronic File Format for Form BA-3, Annual Report of Creditable Compensation
Field
Length
1
4
1

Record
Position
1
2-5
6

4

7-10

10

11-20

9

21-29

20

30-49

15
1

50-64
65

7

66-72

2

73-74

7

75-81

2

82-83

12

84-95

2

96-97

8

98-105

2

106-107

Data and Instructions
"0" (zero).
Four-digit year being reported.
"7"
Four-digit BA number assigned by the Railroad Retirement
Board.
Entries in this field are optional. The “Payroll ID” reference
number shown here will be included on certain correspondence
to the employer to assist the employer in locating the employee.
Employee's social security number.
First twenty (20) characters of the employee's surname. Spaces
in such names as Mc Carthy, St Clair, De La Cross are
acceptable.
First fifteen (15) characters of the employee's first name.
Employee’s middle initial.
RUIA I ($$$$$¢¢) – Total compensation which is creditable
under the RUIA to qualify for benefits. This amount should not
exceed the RUIA I monthly maximum times 12.
Blank Filler.
RUIA II ($$$$$¢¢) – Total compensation which is creditable
under the RUIA to determine maximum benefits. This amount
should not exceed the RUIA II monthly maximum times 12.
Blank Filler.
Service Month Detail - The code corresponding to
84-Jan
the employment relation for a non-work month.
85-Feb
86-March
87-April Code 1 = worked
Code 8 = not worked but has employment relation
88-May
89-June
Code 9 = not worked & has no employment relation
90-July
Code 0 = not worked & employment relation
91-Aug
unknown
92-Sept
93-Oct
NOTE: You cannot mix all four codes. You must
94-Nov
either use codes 1, 8, & 9 or codes 1 & 0. All 12
95-Dec
positions must be filled.
Service Month Total - The sum of the characters in positions 8495. Enter zeroes if no months are reported.
Creditable Tier I compensation, up to the annual maximum for
the year ($$$$$$¢¢).
Blank Filler.

UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 6

Field
Length

Record
Position

8

108-115

2

116-117

5

118-122

2
8
2
8
3
30
30
20
2
5
8
60

123-124
125-132
133-134
135-142
143-145
146-175
176-205
206-225
226-227
228-232
233-240
241-300

Data and Instructions
Creditable Tier II compensation, up to the annual maximum for
the year ($$$$$$¢¢).
Blank Filler.
Last daily pay rate ($$$¢¢). If pay rate exceeds $200.00, enter
20000.
Blank Filler.
Creditable Miscellaneous compensation ($$$$$$¢¢).
Blank Filler.
Creditable Sick Pay compensation ($$$$$$¢¢).
Blank Filler.
Mailing Address Line 1 (Street Number, Post Office Box, etc.).
Mailing Address Line 2.
City
State
Zip Code
Effective date of the address information (MMDDCCYY).
Blank Filler (For future expansion).

NOTE: The file should be saved as a text (*.txt) file with the record format listed above. Reports
submitted on CD ROM, secure email, or FTP must be accompanied by Form G-440, "Report
Specifications Sheet".

UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 7

RRB Program Letter 2008-05, Attachment B
Electronic File Format for Form BA-4, Report of Creditable Compensation Adjustments
Field
Record
Length Position

Data and Instructions

2

96-97

Service Month Total - The sum of the characters in positions 84-95.
Enter zeros if no months are reported.

8

98-105

Creditable Tier I compensation, up to the annual maximum for the
year ($$$$$$¢¢).

2

106-107

Blank Filler.

8

108-115

Creditable Tier II compensation, up to the annual maximum for the
year ($$$$$$¢¢).

2

116-117

Blank Filler.

5

118-122

Last daily pay rate. ($$$¢¢) If pay rate exceeds $200.00, enter 20000.

2

123-124

Blank Filler.

8

125-132

Creditable Miscellaneous compensation ($$$$$$¢¢).

2

133-134

Blank Filler.

8

135-142

Creditable Sick Pay compensation ($$$$$$¢¢).

58

143-200

Blank Filler (For future expansion).

NOTE: The file should be saved as a text (*.txt) file with the record format listed above. Reports
submitted on CD ROM, secure email, or FTP must be accompanied by Form G-440, "Report
Specifications Sheet".

UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 8

RRB Program Letter 2008-05, Attachment C
Electronic File Format for Form BA-6a, Form BA-6 Address Report
Field
Length
9

Record
Position
1-9

15

10-24

1

25

20

26-45

30

46-75

30
20
2
5
8

76-105
106-125
126-127
128-132
133-140

4

141-144

8
28

145-152
153-180

Data and Instructions
The employee's 9-digit social security number.
First fifteen (15) characters of the employee's first
name.
Employee’s middle initial.
First twenty (20) characters of the employee's
surname. Spaces in such names as Mc Carthy, St
Clair, De La Cross are acceptable.
Mailing Address Line 1 (Street Number, Post Office
Box, etc.).
Mailing Address Line 2.
City
State
Zip Code
Blank Filler.
Four-digit BA number assigned by the Railroad
Retirement Board.
Effective date of information (MMDDCCYY).
Blank Filler.

NOTE: The file should be saved as a text (*.txt) file with the record format listed above. Reports
submitted on CD ROM, secure email, or FTP must be accompanied by Form G-440, "Report
Specifications Sheet".

UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 9

RRB Program Letter 2008-05, Attachment D
Electronic File Format for Form BA-9, Report of Separation Allowance and Severance Pay
Field
Length

Record
Position

Data and Instructions

1

1

"L"

4

2-5

Four-digit applicable tax year being reported.

1

6

Code "4" for an initial report or an increase adjustment.
Code "M" for a decrease adjustment.

4

7-10

Four-digit BA number assigned by the Railroad Retirement Board.

9

11-19

Employee's social security number.

20

20-39

First twenty (20) characters of the employee's surname. Spaces in
such names as Mc Carthy, St Clair, and De La Cross are acceptable.

15

40-54

First fifteen (15) characters of the employee's first name.

1

55

Employee’s middle initial.

1

56

Blank Filler.

57-64

An eight-digit separation allowance amount. Do not use a decimal
place. The format is $$$$$$cc. For adjustments, enter the net increase
amount to be applied to the initial report. Do not sign the field. Zeros
should be used to fill the left most positions, if necessary.

8

1

65

Code 1 for an initial report.
Code 2 for an adjustment report.
Code 3 for a periodic payment - not the final payment.
Code 4 for a periodic payment - final payment.

8

66-73

Date employee relinquished employment rights. Format is
MMDDCCYY.

1

74

Blank Filler.

8

75-82

Eight-digit compensation amount. Do not use a decimal place. Format
is ($$$$$$cc). Do not sign the field. Zeros should be used to fill the
left most positions if necessary. Field may be left blank.

4

83-86

Four-digit applicable creditable year being reported.

6

87-92

Total gross amount of separation in whole dollars, $$$$$$. Use zero
to fill the left most positions as needed.

1

93

Blank Filler.

UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 10

Field
Length

Record
Position

Data and Instructions

7

94-100

Show the last rate of pay. Format includes a floating decimal place to
account for hourly through monthly rates. For example, 9.99999,
99.9999, 999.999, etc.

The code corresponding to the period to which the rate applies.
1

101

Code 1 = Per Hour
Code 2 = Per Day
Code 3 = Per Week
Code 4 = Per Month
The code corresponding to the employee's normal work week.

1

102

18

103-120

Code 5 = Five-Day Week
Code 6 = Six-Day Week
Code 7 = Seven-Day Week
Code 8 = Train and Engine Service
Code 9 = Dining Car and Pullman Service
Blank Filler.

NOTE: The file should be saved as a text (*.txt) file with the record format listed above. Reports
submitted on CD ROM, secure email, or FTP must be accompanied by Form G-440, "Report
Specifications Sheet".

UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 11

RRB Program Letter 2008-05, Attachment E
Electronic File Format for Form BA-11, Report of Gross Earnings
Report of Gross Earnings (Annual Earnings)
Field
Length

Record
Position

Data and Instructions

2

1-2

"40"

4

3-6

Year being reported (CCYY).

4

7-10

Four-digit employer BA number assigned by the Railroad
Retirement Board.

9

11-19

Employee's social security account number.
NOTE: Report only those employees whose social security
number ends with the digits “30”.

20

20-39

First twenty (20) characters of the employee's surname.
Spaces in such names as O Grady or De La Cross are
acceptable.

15

40-54

First fifteen (15) characters of the employee's first name.

1

55

Employee’s middle initial.

9

56-64

Annual Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by
zero(s) if necessary.

56

65-120

Leave blank or zero-fill.

NOTE: The file should be saved as a text (*.txt) file with the record format listed above. Reports
submitted on CD ROM, secure email, or FTP must be accompanied by Form G-440, "Report
Specifications Sheet".

Report of Gross Earnings (Quarterly Earnings)
Field
Length

Record
Position

Data and Instructions

2

1-2

"39"

4

3-6

Year being reported (CCYY).

4

7-10

Four-digit employer BA number assigned by the Railroad
Retirement Board.

UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 12

Report of Gross Earnings (Quarterly Earnings)
Field
Length

Record
Position

Data and Instructions

9

11-19

Employee's social security account number.
NOTE: Report only those employees whose social security
number ends with the digits “30”.

20

20-39

First twenty (20) characters of the employee's surname.
Spaces in such names as O Grady or De La Cross are
acceptable.

15

40-54

First fifteen (15) characters of the employee's first name.

1

55

Employee’s middle initial.

9

56-64

First Quarter Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded
by zero(s) if necessary. If there are no earnings for first
quarter, leave positions 54-64 blank or zero-fill.

9

65-73

Second Quarter Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢),
preceded by zero(s) if necessary. If there are no earnings for
second quarter, leave positions 65-73 blank or zero-fill.

74-82

Third Quarter Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded
by zero(s) if necessary. If there are no earnings for third
quarter, leave positions 74-82 blank or zero-fill.

9

83-91

Fourth Quarter Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded
by zero(s) if necessary. If there are no earnings for fourth
quarter, leave positions 83-91 blank or zero-fill.

29

92-120

Leave blank or zero-fill.

9

NOTE: The file should be saved as a text (*.txt) file with the record format listed above. Reports
submitted on CD ROM, secure email, or FTP must be accompanied by Form G-440, "Report
Specifications Sheet".

NOTE: When completing a monthly Report of Gross Earnings (see electronic file format on page
14), two 120 position records must be keyed whether or not both records have earnings. (Where
one record does not contain money fields, positions 1-55 must have data.) The file should be saved
as a text (*.txt) file with the record format listed below. Reports submitted on CD ROM, secure
email, or FTP must be accompanied by Form G-440, "Report Specifications Sheet".

UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 13

Report of Gross Earnings (Monthly Earnings)
Record No. 1 - January through June
Field
Length

Record
Position

Data and Instructions

2

1-2

"28"

4

3-6

Year being reported (CCYY).

4

7-10

Four-digit employer BA number assigned by the Railroad
Retirement Board.

9

11-19

Employee's social security account number.
NOTE: Report only those employees whose social security
number ends with the digits “30”.

20

20-39

First twenty (20) characters of the employee's surname.
Spaces in such names as O Grady or De La Cross are
acceptable.

15

40-54

First fifteen (15) characters of the employee's first name.

1

55

Employee’s middle initial.

9

56-64

January Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by
zero(s) if necessary. If there are no earnings for January,
leave positions 56-64 blank or zero-fill.

9

65-73

February Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by
zero(s) if necessary. If there are no earnings for February,
leave positions 65-73 blank or zero-fill.

9

74-82

March Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by
zero(s) if necessary. If there are no earnings for March, leave
positions 74-82 blank or zero-fill.

9

83-91

April Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by zero(s)
if necessary. If there are no earnings for April, leave
positions 83-91 blank or zero-fill.

9

92-100

May Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by zero(s)
if necessary. If there are no earnings for May, leave positions
92-100 blank or zero-fill.

9

101-109

June Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by zero(s)
if necessary. If there are no earnings for June, leave positions
101-109 blank or zero-fill.

11

110-120

Leave blank or zero-fill.

UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 14

Report of Gross Earnings (Monthly Earnings)
Record No. 2 - July through December
Field
Length

Record
Position

Data and Instructions

2

1-2

"29"

4

3-4

Year being reported (CCYY).

4

5-8

Four-digit employer BA number assigned by the Railroad
Retirement Board.

9

9-17

Employee's social security account number.
NOTE: Report only those employees whose social security
number ends with the digits “30”.

20

18-22

First twenty (20) characters of the employee's surname.
Spaces in such names as O Grady or De La Cross are
acceptable.

15

23-24

First fifteen (15) characters of the employee's first name.

1

55

Employee’s middle initial.

9

56-64

January Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by
zero(s) if necessary. If there are no earnings for January,
leave positions 56-64 blank or zero-fill.

9

65-73

February Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by
zero(s) if necessary. If there are no earnings for February,
leave positions 65-73 blank or zero-fill.

9

74-82

March Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by
zero(s) if necessary. If there are no earnings for March, leave
positions 74-82 blank or zero-fill.

9

83-91

April Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by zero(s)
if necessary. If there are no earnings for April, leave
positions 83-91 blank or zero-fill.

9

92-100

May Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by zero(s)
if necessary. If there are no earnings for May, leave positions
92-100 blank or zero-fill.

9

101-109

June Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by zero(s)
if necessary. If there are no earnings for June, leave positions
101-109 blank or zero-fill.

11

110-120

Leave blank or zero-fill.

UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 15