RRB’s Statements of Service Set to Arrive Soon

Railroaders are encouraged to keep an eye on their mailboxes for an important form that’s set to arrive during the first half of June.

Prepared annually by the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), a Form BA-6, Certificate of Service Months and Compensation, is sent to every railroad employee with creditable railroad compensation in the last calendar year. Specific instructions are available for reviewing the form.

The information is used to determine whether an employee qualifies for benefits and the amount of those benefits, so railroaders are urged to review their individual forms carefully to ensure that their records agree with what’s noted.

As a reminder, only annual earnings up to $176,100 are creditable for railroad retirement, the maximum amount shown on the form. The BA-6 also shows service credited on a month-by-month basis for 2024, 2023, and 2022, the employer(s) reporting the employee’s 2025 service and compensation, and the number of any additional service months deemed by the RRB.

Please note that the section marked “Employee Contributions” shows the difference between the railroad retirement payroll taxes paid as an employee under the Railroad Retirement Tax Act and the social security payroll taxes an employee would have paid if all of their creditable railroad service had been covered under the Social Security Act. The RRB does not collect or maintain payroll tax information, but this amount advises retired employees of their payroll tax contributions for federal income tax purposes.

There’s also a section in the lower-right corner of the form that designates whether the employee is eligible to claim unemployment or sickness benefits.

Form BA-6 also shows 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. It’s recommended that employees submit proofs of age and/or military service in advance of their actual retirement to streamline the benefit application process and help prevent payment delays.

Formal protest requests need to be submitted in writing or on Form G-70, Protest Record of Service Months and Compensation. Requests for adjustments made by employees must be filed within four years of the date the service and/or compensation was to be reported. Protests filed outside of that window will not be considered timely.

If personal information (name, birthdate, address, etc.) is incorrect or incomplete, employees should notify their local RRB field office to have it corrected.

Railroad employees who have not received a Form BA-6 by July 1 or those who need a replacement are encouraged to contact an RRB field office by calling 1-877-772-5772. Callers can also request a statement of service and compensation through the number’s automated menu by selecting option 5 at the end of the recorded greeting. Statements can also be requested online by clicking the “Request Documents” button at RRB.gov/myRRB.

More detailed information about the Statements of Service are available on the RRB’s website.