Railroad Retirement Sickness Benefit and POD Form

Railroad Retirement Sickness Benefit and POD Form 

Basic steps to follow

1. Call RRB at (877) 772-5772 for a Sickness Benefit application or apply online at rrb.gov.
   • You will have (2) pages and the doctor will have (1).
2. Next call for your forms for Short-Term Disability Benefits from BLET, UTU or independent policies for the doctor to sign.
   • CSX is Cornerstone
   • NS is Railroad Marketing
   • UTU is Anthem
3. You must submit a Proof of Disability Form (POD) to your insurance provider (fax direct to eligibility section at: 248-733-6080). To get your insurance locked in for the extended period of the rest of the qualifying year plus (2), the rest of qualifying year plus (1) for dependents, the rest of qualifying year plus (1) for dental and vision on you both.
   • There is no monthly contribution while in this status. 
4. Normally the most direct path to getting the POD completed is to see your primary care physician, especially if you are being held out of service you have four months from last compensated service. Tell your doctor your job description and your conditions as related to being unable to continue in your occupation. Have he/she sign both the POD form and the RRB Sickness Benefits form and to circle yes on the POD form. If he/she does not, you will have to get it renewed at the expiration of the period stated on the form. Remind the doctor the form says disabled from your occupation, not totally disabled. Unlike a social security form, ask him/her either to put a date or circle yes (but not to say indefinite).
   • Fax the POD form directly to the eligibility department at (248) 733-6080 for all three providers as noted in #3 above.
   • Mark off from work sick/under doctor’s care.
   • Do not use FMLA.
   • Do not work after POD form is faxed.
5. Call (800) 842-5252 in about five (5) days to confirm your insurance eligibility extension. (Again, if you are dismissed and in suspended status, you must get POD form filed in under 4 months from last compensated service to change status from dismissed to disabled and it must be a legitimate, objective disability)
6. If applicable, call Railroad Marketing at: (877) 646-9951 for NS BLE Short-Term Disability application. For CSX, call Cornerstone at: (847) 387-3555. you may have additional coverages as well.

Work on feeling better, and trying to heal up.

 If you do not get better and cannot return to your job, and you have the qualifying months of service, stay tuned for our next check list, RRB OCCUPATIONAL DISABILITY ANNUITY 

Sincerely,

Paul Wingo

423-802-7351