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The Social Security Board of Trustees released its annual report on the long-term financial status of the Social Security trust funds. The combined asset reserves of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) and Disability Insurance (DI), or OASDI, trust funds are projected to become depleted in 2034, the same as projected last year, with 79 percent of benefits payable at that time.
The OASI trust fund is projected to become depleted in late 2034, as compared to last year’s estimate of early 2035, with 77 percent of benefits payable at that time. The DI trust fund will become depleted in 2032, extended from last year’s estimate of 2028, with 96 percent of benefits still payable.
In the 2018 annual report to Congress, the trustees announced:

  • The asset reserves of the combined OASDI trust funds increased by $44 billion in 2017 to a total of $2.89 trillion.
  • The total annual cost of the program is projected to exceed total annual income in 2018 for the first time since 1982, and remain higher throughout the 75-year projection period. As a result, asset reserves are expected to decline during 2018. Social Security’s cost has exceeded its non-interest income since 2010.
  • The year when the combined trust fund reserves are projected to become depleted, if Congress does not act before then, is 2034 – the same as projected last year. At that time, there will be sufficient income coming in to pay 79 percent of scheduled benefits.

“The trustees’ projected depletion date of the combined Social Security trust funds has not changed, and slightly more than three-fourths of benefits would still be payable after depletion,” said Nancy A. Berryhill, acting commissioner of Social Security. “But the fact remains that Congress can keep Social Security strong by taking action to ensure the future of the program.”
Other highlights of the trustees’ report include:

  • Total income, including interest, to the combined OASDI trust funds amounted to $997 billion in 2017 ($874 billion from net payroll tax contributions, $38 billion from taxation of benefits and $85 billion in interest).
  • Total expenditures from the combined OASDI trust funds amounted to more than $952 billion in 2017.
  • Social Security paid benefits of more than $941 billion in 2017. There were about 62 million beneficiaries at the end of the calendar year.
  • The projected actuarial deficit over the 75-year long-range period is 2.84 percent of taxable payroll – slightly larger than the 2.83 percent projected in last year’s report.
  • During 2017, an estimated 174 million people had earnings covered by Social Security and paid payroll taxes.
  • The cost of $6.5 billion to administer the Social Security program in 2017 was a very low 0.7 percent of total expenditures.
  • The combined trust fund asset reserves earned interest at an effective annual rate of 3.0 percent in 2017.

The board of trustees usually comprises six members. Four serve by virtue of their positions with the federal government: Steven T. Mnuchin, secretary of the treasury and managing trustee; Nancy A. Berryhill, acting commissioner of Social Security; Alex M. Azar II, secretary of health and human services; and R. Alexander Acosta, secretary of labor. The two public trustee positions are currently vacant.
View the 2018 trustees report at www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/TR/2018/.

Each year, the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) prepares a “Certificate of Service Months and Compensation” (Form BA-6) for every railroad employee with creditable railroad compensation in the previous calendar year. The RRB will mail the forms to employees during the first half of June. While every effort has been made to maintain current addresses for all active railroad employees, anyone with compensation reported in 2017 who has not received Form BA-6 by July 1, or needs a replacement, should contact an RRB field office by calling the agency toll-free at 1-877-772-5772.

Form BA-6 provides employees with a record of their railroad retirement service and compensation, and the information shown is used to determine whether an employee qualifies for benefits and the amount of those benefits. It is important that employees review their Form BA-6 to see whether their own records of service months and creditable compensation agree with the figures shown on the form.

In checking the 2017 compensation total, employees should be aware that only annual earnings up to $127,200 were creditable for railroad retirement purposes in that year, and that $127,200 is the maximum amount shown on the form. To assist employees in reviewing their service credits, the form also shows service credited on a month-by-month basis for 2016, 2015 and 2014, when the creditable compensation maximum was $118,500 for both 2016 and 2015, and $117,000 for 2014. The form also identifies the employer(s) reporting the employee’s 2017 service and compensation.

Besides the months of service reported by employers, Form BA-6 shows the number of any additional service months deemed by the RRB. Deemed service months may be credited under certain conditions for an employee who did not work in all 12 months of the year, but had creditable tier II earnings exceeding monthly prorations of the creditable tier II earnings maximum for the year. However, the total of reported and deemed service months may never exceed 12 in a calendar year, and no service months, reported or deemed, can be credited after retirement, severance, resignation, discharge or death.

The form also indicates the number of months of verified military service creditable as service under the Railroad Retirement Act, if the service was previously reported to the RRB. Employees are encouraged to submit proofs of age and/or military service in advance of their actual retirement. Filing these proofs with the RRB in advance will streamline the benefit application process and prevent payment delays.

For employees who received separation or severance payments, the section of the form designated “Taxable Amount” shows the amounts reported by employers of any separation allowance or severance payments that were subject to railroad retirement tier II taxes. This information is shown on the form because a lump sum, approximating part or all of the tier II taxes deducted from such payments made after 1984 which did not provide additional tier II credits, may be payable by the RRB upon retirement to qualified employees or to survivors if the employee dies before retirement. The amount of an allowance included in an employee’s regular compensation is shown under “Compensation Amount.”

Form BA-6 also shows, in the section designated “Employee Contributions,” the cumulative amount of tier II railroad retirement payroll taxes paid by the employee over and above tier I social security equivalent payroll taxes. While the RRB does not collect or maintain payroll tax information, the agency computes this amount from its compensation records in order to advise retired employees of their payroll tax contributions for Federal income tax purposes.

Employees should check their name, address, birth date and sex shown at the top of the form. If the form shows the birth date as 99-9999 and the gender code is “U” (for unknown), it means the RRB is verifying his or her social security number with the Social Security Administration. Otherwise, if the personal identifying information is incorrect or incomplete (generally a case where the employee’s surname has more than 10 letters and the form shows only the first 10 letters) or the address is not correct, the employee should contact an RRB field office. The field office can then correct the RRB’s records. This is important in order to prevent identity or security-related problems that could arise if the employee wants to use certain internet services available on the RRB’s website at www.rrb.gov.

Employees may view their railroad retirement service and compensation records; get annuity estimates; apply for or claim railroad unemployment benefits; claim sickness benefits and access their railroad unemployment insurance account statements through the RRB’s website. To use these online services, an employee must set up an RRB online account and obtain a password. Instructions for establishing an online account can be accessed via the “Benefit Online Services” link on the home page. For security purposes, first-time users must enter a Password Request Code (PRC). The agency automatically mails a PRC to any employee who files a paper application for unemployment or sickness benefits. If an individual has not received a PRC, they can request one by clicking the appropriate link on the “Benefit Online Services” page. They will then receive the PRC by mail at their home address in about 10 days.

Employees can also request that printouts of their individual railroad retirement records of service months and compensation be mailed to them. A PIN/Password is not required to use this service. It can be accessed by visiting www.rrb.gov, going to “Benefit Online Services” and then clicking on “No Login Required.”

If the employee’s name was incomplete on Form BA-6, and he or she has not yet contacted an RRB field office to correct it, the employee should enter his or her first and middle initials and his or her surname just as it appears on the Form BA-6 or a previously furnished printout of service and compensation, along with the other requested information, in order to submit an online request.

Any other discrepancies in Form BA-6 should be reported promptly in writing to:

Protest Unit-CESC
U.S. Railroad Retirement Board
844 North Rush Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611-1275

The employee must include his or her social security number in the letter. Form BA-6 also explains what other documentation and information should be provided. The law limits to four years the period during which corrections to service and compensation amounts can be made.

For most employees, the address of the RRB office serving their area is provided on the form along with the RRB’s nationwide toll-free number (1-877-772-5772). RRB field offices are open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, except on federal holidays.

 

Sample Form BA-6
 

Sen. Duckworth

On the one-year anniversary of the shooting of Amtrak conductor Michael Case in Naperville, Ill., U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D – Ill.) introduced S. 2861 — The Passenger Rail Crew Protection Parity Act — a bill that would make it a felony to assault or intimidate passenger rail crewmembers. U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R – N.D.) has signed on as a co-sponsor of the bill.
“The senseless shooting in 2017 of Michael Case, a SMART TD brother out of Local 1525, that inspired the senators to craft this bill is just one example of the crime against rail crewmembers that happens all too often,” SMART TD President John Previsich said. “Making such incidents felony-level offenses throughout the U.S. would be a step in making our nation’s rails a safer place to work and travel.”
Michael Case

Case spent 10 weeks in the hospital after being shot May 16, 2017, and his shooting is one of 73 recorded cases of assault on Amtrak employees since 2015. A year later, Case said he is still recovering.
“I am working very hard to get my strength, flexibility, endurance and mental health back to 100 percent. I have my struggles, but I count my blessings that I am alive,” Case said. “My family has been through a lot this past year — we look forward to better days ahead!”
Case’s shooting, as well as other incidences of assault, inspired Duckworth to propose the legislation.
“No one in America should experience what Amtrak conductor Michael Case endured while just doing his job. We are all entitled to work in a safe environment, one that is free from violence, harassment and intimidation,” Duckworth said in a press release.
If passed, the bill would provide the same protections to passenger rail personnel as airline crewmembers. Currently, any assault on a rail crewmember falls under the laws of the local jurisdiction where the crime occurs, leading to an inequality in justice for assault victims. This legislation levels the playing field, and victims can expect to receive the same justice, no matter where the crime happens, if the bill becomes law.
“This bipartisan legislation is welcomed and overdue,” Previsich said. “SMART Transportation Division applauds Sen. Duckworth’s and Sen. Hoeven’s efforts to bring federal protections of rail workers in line with those of the airline industry. We urge members of Congress to support this bill to bring crimes against railroaders under the umbrella of federal law.”
Case also supports the bill and says it would help to protect his fellow passenger rail workers.
“I pray that my co-workers NEVER have to go through what my family and I have endured this past year!” Case said. “A safe and secure environment will allow my co-workers to focus on the task at hand — operate and administrate their equipment up and down the railroad safely.”
In a press release released by Duckworth’s office, Illinois State Legislative Director Bob Guy also lent support.
“Given the interstate nature of passenger rail, it only makes sense to provide the same federal protections that aviation employees enjoy to employees in the passenger rail industry, and that’s just what the Passenger Rail Crew Protection Parity Act would do. I want to thank Senators Duckworth and Hoeven for their commitment to rail safety and working to provide our members the federal protections they deserve,”  he said.
S. 2861 has been referred to the U.S. Senate Committee Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, of which Duckworth is a member.

The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will send out new Medicare cards that do not feature beneficiaries’ Social Security numbers in the coming weeks.
The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 required the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to develop a new card that does not have an individual’s Social Security number on it to cut down on the likelihood of identity theft.
The new Medicare cards instead have a randomly assigned 11-digit combination of numbers and upper-case letters and will no longer indicate the beneficiary’s gender.
When they receive their new Medicare card, beneficiaries should safely and securely destroy their old Medicare card and keep their new Medicare number confidential, the RRB said.
The new card and number will not affect Medicare benefits, and CMS has been working with medical providers to ensure a smooth transition, the RRB said..
A single exception involves people enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, also known as Medicare Part C. These individuals will continue to use their plan’s identification card for access to Medicare benefits as these cards already have a unique identification number.
The RRB said it will mail the new Medicare cards to about 450,000 beneficiaries in early June. A railroad Medicare beneficiary who has a lost or damaged Medicare card can request a new one by calling the RRB at 877-772-5772 or going to the Benefit Online Services section of the agency’s website at www.rrb.gov.
Beneficiaries also can print out a new card at home by setting up an online account at www.mymedicare.gov. This feature will be available after their new card has been mailed.
For additional information, visit www.cms.gov/newcard.
An example of the new Medicare card can be accessed at this link.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has scheduled a meeting June 12, 2018, in Washington, D.C., to solicit comments and suggestions from stakeholders in the railroad and trucking industries on whistleblower issues within the jurisdiction of the agency.
OSHA seeks input on how the agency can better deliver whistleblower customer service, and what kind of assistance the agency can provide to help explain the whistleblower laws it enforces. This meeting will be the first in a series of meetings requesting public input on the whistleblower program.
The meeting is open to the public, and will be held from 1:00-3:00 p.m. ET in Room N-3437 A-B, at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20210. Individuals interested in participating or attending the meeting, either in-person or via telephone, must register by May 29, 2018. Click here to register. There is no fee to register. All materials may be submitted electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal eRulemaking Portal using OSHA Docket No. OSHA-2018-0005.
OSHA enforces the whistleblower provisions of 22 statutes protecting employees who report violations of airline, commercial motor vehicle, consumer product, environmental, financial reform, food safety, health care reform, nuclear, pipeline, public transportation agency, railroad, maritime and securities laws. More information is available at http://www.whistleblowers.gov. For information about OSHA, visit http://www.osha.gov.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.


Net Earnings: Up 37 percent, to $1.1 billion
Revenue: $5.6 billion, an increase of 8 percent
Operating Income: $1.74 billion, up from $1.58 billion a year ago
Operating Ratio: Increased to 68.5 percent, but down from 69.2 percent a year ago
Click here to read BNSF’s full earnings report. (PDF)
 

Net Earnings: Increased 16 percent to C$741 million from C$884 million; diluted earnings per share decreased by 14 percent to C$1.00 from C$1.16
Revenue: Decreased C$12 million to C$3,194 million from C$3,206 million
Operating Income: Decreased 16 percent to C$1,030 million from C$1,224 million
Operating Ratio: Increased 6.0 points to 67.8 percent from 61.8 percent
Click here to read CN’s full earnings report.
 

Net Earnings: Decreased 19 percent from C$431 million to C$348 million; diluted earnings per share decreased 18 percent to C$2.41 from C$2.93
Revenue: Increased 4 percent to C$1.66 billion from C$1.60 billion
Operating Income: Decreased 11 percent to C$540 million from C$604 million
Operating Ratio: Increased 510 basis points to 67.5 percent
Click here to read CP’s full earnings report.
 

Net Earnings: A record $695 million or $0.78 per share as compared to 2017’s $362 million or $0.39 per share
Revenue: Remained flat at $2.88 billion
Operating Income: Increased 36 percent to $1.04 billion from $769 million from the same quarter in 2017
Operating Ratio: Improved 950 basis points to 63.7 percent from 73.2 percent in 2017
Click here to read CSX’s full earnings report.
 

Net Earnings: Decreased to $145 million or $1.40 diluted earnings per share from $147 million or $1.38 per share
Revenue: Increased 5 percent to a record $639 million, up from $610 million
Operating Income: Increased 4 percent to a record $219 million from $211 million
Operating Ratio: Increased to 65.8 percent from 65.4 percent
Click here to read KCS’ full earnings report.
 

Net Earnings: Increased 27 percent to a record $552 million from $757 million; diluted earnings per share increased 30 percent to a record $1.93 from $1.48
Revenue: Increased 6 percent to $2.7 billion from $2.6 billion
Operating Income: Increased 10 percent to a record $835 million from $757 million
Operating Ratio: A record 69.3 percent down from 70.6 percent
Click here to read NS’ full earnings report.
 

Net Earnings: Increased to $1.3 billion from $1.1 billion; diluted earnings per share increased 27 percent to a record $1.68 from $1.32 per share.
Revenue: Increased 7 percent to $5.5 billion, up from $5.1 billion
Operating Income: Increased 8 percent to $1.9 billion from $1.8 billion
Operating Ratio: Improved 0.6 points to 64.6 percent from 65.2
Click here to read UP’s full earnings report.
 

Notes:

  • Operating ratio is a railroad’s operating expenses expressed as a percentage of operating revenue, and is considered by economists to be the basic measure of carrier profitability. The lower the operating ratio, the more efficient the railroad.
  • All comparisons are made to 2017’s first quarter financial results for each railroad.

A man’s rail career was jeopardized after eating a gummy bear, and SMART Transportation Division cautions members of the risks of a positive drug test after consuming “hemp products,” which are unregulated by the federal government and considered illegal by federal law.
Virginia State Legislative Director Ronnie Hobbs says a 28-year-old member experienced a positive Department of Transportation drug test after eating a candy containing the substance cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD, which is a chemical derived from the marijuana plant.
CBD is legal in products in many states, including Virginia, and reportedly has medicinal properties such as relaxation, pain relief and anxiety reduction in users. Because of these properties and the adoption of medical marijuana laws in multiple states, hemp products containing CBD such as ingestible pills or tablets, candies, “vaping” fluid, topical ointments and oils have become more widely available.
“This is a major issue,” said Hobbs. “These products can cost members their jobs – you don’t know what you’re buying.”
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a statement in late April warning of the potential risk of using anything containing CBD, such as gummies or hemp oil.
Since CBD comes from the marijuana plant, federal law considers it an illegal Schedule I controlled substance, even though it may be for sale and legal to use in individual states. Because the federal government considers it illegal, products containing it are unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and there is no oversight of these products.
As a result, users of hemp products run the risk of taking in the intoxicating component of marijuana called delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, aka THC. Since there is no regulatory oversight, the label may claim the products have no THC content, but there is no guarantee that is the case, the FRA said.
“CBD products can, therefore, be definitely a ‘buyer beware’ concern in terms of product content and quality control,” the FRA stated. “In addition, CBD products may be innocently or purposefully sold with varying amounts of THC present, which will obviously not be listed as an ingredient.”
So the label might be wrong, saying that the product didn’t contain THC when it actually did, as was the case for the member, Hobbs said.
“It’s creative packaging,” he said. “We need to get a strong message out. Even though the packaging says, ‘no THC,’ there could be THC in there. There’s no oversight.”
Drug tests administered by the DOT target a byproduct called THCCOOH, which appears in a person’s urine after the use of a product containing THC. While a product containing pure CBD would not trigger a positive, a product with a mix of THC along with the CBD taken into the body could trigger a positive test.
“If THC is present in sufficient amounts, that could potentially be the source of a positive federal drug test,” the FRA said.
Even if a regulated employee says the source of a positive marijuana test is a hemp product, FRA says the test still will be verified by the Medical Review Officer (MRO) as a positive result.
That’s what happened to the father of two after just one gummy bear, Hobbs said.

Ovarian cancer begins in the ovaries and is often undetected until it has spread to the stomach and pelvis. Early-stage ovarian cancer can frequently be treated successfully. However, late-stage ovarian cancer is much harder to treat and is often fatal. Because the symptoms of ovarian cancer don’t usually appear early enough for successful treatment, know what is normal for your body – if you begin to experience anything different and unexplained, talk to your doctor. ¹

What are some of the symptoms of ovarian cancer?

Unfortunately, there are normally no symptoms in the early stages of ovarian cancer. Once the cancer progresses, more symptoms arise but often they are similar to the symptoms of other common illnesses. Some of the symptoms are: ¹

  • Stomach swelling or bloating
  • Feeling full quickly while eating
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Pelvic pain or discomfort
  • Increased need to urinate and/or constipation

What causes ovarian cancer?

Doctors know that cancer starts when a cell mutates in its DNA and the mutation triggers the cell to grow at a rapid pace and multiply, thereby creating a mass of abnormal cells. While doctors have been able to identify certain risk factors for ovarian cancer, they have not been able to specifically point to what causes it. ¹

What are some of the risk factors for ovarian cancer?

Several factors may contribute to your risk of ovarian cancer, such as: ¹

  • Age – While ovarian cancer can happen at any age, women ages 50 to 60 are more at risk.
  • Family history – Close relatives, such as sister, mother and aunt on either parent’s side who have had ovarian cancer increases your risk.
  • Inherited gene mutations – Gene mutations that you inherit from your parents, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, not only increase your risk of breast cancer but for ovarian cancer as well.
  • Estrogen hormone replacement therapy – Long-term use, usually ten years or more, of estrogen hormone replacement therapy may increase your risk.
  • Start/end ages of menstruation and menopause – The younger the age for menstruation and/or the older the age for menopause increases your risk.
  • Certain previous cancers – If you have had colon, uterine or breast cancer, you are at an increased risk.
  • Never given birth or fertility issues – If you have never given birth or had trouble getting pregnant, your risk is higher.

Can ovarian cancer be prevented?

While there are no ways to guarantee the prevention of ovarian cancer, there are some things you can do which may help lower your risk, such as: ¹

  • Birth control pills – Using birth control pills for five years or more lowers risk, because oral contraceptives also have risks discuss this option with your doctor.
  • Given birth – Your risk may be less if you have given birth.
  • Certain surgical procedures – A tubal ligation, removal of both ovaries and a hysterectomy may lower your risk.

When should I see a doctor?

If you are experiencing any symptoms which aren’t normal for you, call your doctor. Ovarian cancer can often be treated successfully if caught in the early stages. If you have a risk factor for ovarian cancer or any cancer, reach out to your doctor to discuss any concerns you may have. ¹

More information

For more information visit the following websites:

¹ www.mayoclinic.org

This is informational only, not a replacement for the medical advice of your physician.

Bus Operators employed by Montebello Bus Lines (MBL) are angry and concerned for their safety after a college student was critically injured during an attack, which occurred Monday, April 9, while riding on one of their buses.
Local 1701 Chairperson Cecilia Lopez told the Montebello City Council at a meeting Wednesday, April 11, that members have been concerned for their safety for awhile and in light of Monday’s stabbing, are demanding that the city, who owns the bus system, make improvements to safety.
“People are crazy out there. Please don’t sweep this under the rug,” Lopez said at the meeting. “What does it take to make sure our employees are safe?”
Lopez has suggested that the city place uniformed officers on every bus. The Montebello police department says that they don’t have the manpower to place an officer on every bus, but that some officers can be placed on buses, especially if more complaints are lodged.
Click here to read more from the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

SMART TD Local 1701 represents mechanics and bus operators employed by Montebello Bus Lines.
With a fleet of 66 buses, MBL serves over 8 million passengers a year throughout the communities of Alhambra, Bell Gardens, Boyle Heights, Commerce, Downtown Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, La Mirada, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pico Rivera, Rosemead, South Gate and Whittier.

Update: Manuel Ortiz, 27, was apprehended at 1 a.m., Thursday, April 12, and is being held on attempted murder charges. A motive for the attack is still unclear.
An update on the condition of the victim has not been released.
Click here to read more from CBS Los Angeles.

CBS Los Angeles reports that a passenger who was stabbed while riding aboard a Montebello Bus Lines (MBL) bus is not expected to survive. The attack happened along the 5700 block of Whittier Blvd., in East LA at 10:13 a.m. on Monday, April 9. The victim is said to be in his 20s and was on his way to East LA College where he is a student.
Video of the attack from an inward-facing camera shows that there was no provocation and that the victim appeared to be minding his own business. Authorities are still searching for the perpetrator.
Click here to read more from CBS Los Angeles.
SMART TD Local 1701 represents mechanics and bus operators employed by Montebello Bus Lines.
With a fleet of 66 buses, MBL serves over 8 million passengers a year throughout the communities of Alhambra, Bell Gardens, Boyle Heights, Commerce, Downtown Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, La Mirada, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pico Rivera, Rosemead, South Gate and Whittier.