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GAO-09-821R 1 (2009-09-09)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaanpg0001 and id is 1 raw text is: AA AGAO AA Accountability * Integrity * Reliability United States Government Accountability Office Washington, DC 20548 September 9, 2009 The Honorable John L. Mica Ranking Member Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure House of Representatives The Honorable Bill Shuster Ranking Member Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure House of Representatives Subject: Railroad Retirement Board: Review of Commuter Railroad Occupational Disability Claims Reveals Potential Program Vulnerabilities In fall 2008, a series of news reports revealed the relatively high number of workers at one commuter railroad-the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR)- who have applied for and been approved for occupational disability benefits by the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). According to RRB officials, a number of federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Social Security Administration, and the Department of Health and Human Services, have launched investigations in response to issues raised. In addition, the New York Attorney General's office is conducting a criminal investigation. RRB is a federal agency responsible for administering the disability and retirement benefit programs for eligible railroad workers and their families under the Railroad Retirement Act. This includes providing occupational disability annuities for workers who have physical or mental impairments that prevent them from performing their specific railroad job, regardless of whether they can perform other work. For example, a railroad engineer who cannot frequently climb, bend, and reach, as required by the job, may be found occupationally disabled. A railroad worker is eligible to apply for an occupational disability at age 60 if he or she has 10 years of service, or GAO-09-821R Railroad Retirement Board Page 1

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