LIFE JUST HIT ME!

Injury, Sickness, or Time Off Work — Now What?

If you are injured, sick, or otherwise unable to work, do not wait. There are important deadlines that can affect your benefits.

Most railroad employees should think of this process in three separate parts:

  1. RRB sickness benefits through the Railroad Retirement Board. Create An Account NOW! MyRRB
  2. The Hartford Supplemental Sickness Benefit through the railroad plan. Link — The Hartford
  3. Private supplemental insurance, if you personally elected it.

These are separate benefits. Filing one claim does not automatically file the others.

Step 1 — File With RRB for Sickness Benefits

To receive RRB sickness benefits, you must complete and file the required RRB sickness forms.

You need:

  • Application for Sickness Benefits
  • Statement of Sickness completed by your doctor or authorized medical provider

RRB states these forms should be submitted within 10 days from when you become sick or injured. If you file late, you may lose benefits.

You can get the forms from:

MyRRB Link

  • Any RRB office
  • The RRB website

RRB sickness benefits apply when you are unable to work because of sickness or injury and are not receiving pay for the days claimed.

Important Note About Rest Days

You may be able to claim rest days if you were unable to work and did not receive pay from your employer.

Paid sick days are considered pay from the employer. If you received paid sick time, vacation pay, holiday pay, wage continuation, or other pay for a day, make sure it is reported properly.

When in doubt, ask RRB directly.

RRB phone:

1-877-772-5772

Step 2 — Call The Hartford

The Hartford handles the railroad Supplemental Sickness Benefit claim.

This is separate from RRB, but it works alongside RRB sickness benefits. Do not assume RRB automatically starts your Hartford claim.

Call The Hartford:

1-888-301-5615

It is usually easier to call and have them open the claim over the phone. After the claim is opened, create your online profile and track the claim online.

Online:

https://www.thehartford.com/employee-benefits/employees

General steps:

  1. Go to The Hartford employee benefits website.
  2. Choose Employee Benefits.
  3. Select Start or Track a Claim.
  4. Choose Disability and Leave Benefits.
  5. Click Get Started.

Important Hartford Deadline

You should file with The Hartford as soon as possible.

Do not wait until the RRB claim is fully approved before contacting The Hartford.

You need to call or file online to establish your Hartford claim number. If you miss the filing deadline, you may lose the supplemental benefit.

This supplemental benefit may help make up part of the difference between your regular income and what RRB pays.

Step 3 — Set Up Your RRB Online Account

After the initial RRB sickness application is started, set up your online account if you have not already done so.

RRB online services use Login.gov.

Go to:

https://rrb.gov/Benefits/myRRB

Then:

  1. Click Sign in with LOGIN.GOV.
  2. Create or access your Login.gov account.
  3. Use myRRB to check benefit information and file continuing claims when available.

RRB sickness claims generally continue in claim periods. Do not miss your continuing claim deadlines.

Step 4 — Keep Filing Every Claim Period

Filing the first forms is not the end of the process.

You must continue to submit the required claim forms for each claim period while you remain unable to work and eligible.

Track:

  • The first day you were unable to work
  • The date you filed with RRB
  • The date your doctor signed the Statement of Sickness
  • Your Hartford claim number
  • Your RRB claim periods
  • Any continuing medical forms
  • Return-to-work date or estimated return-to-work date

Missing continuing claim deadlines can delay or reduce benefits.

Step 5 — Private Supplemental Insurance

Not every member has private supplemental insurance.

RRB and The Hartford are the main items most members need to know about first. However, some members may also have separate voluntary coverage that they personally elected and pay for through payroll deduction.

Examples may include:

  • Accident insurance
  • Hospital indemnity insurance
  • Critical illness insurance
  • Disability insurance
  • Voluntary life insurance

This coverage is separate from RRB and separate from The Hartford.

For example, some members may have elected coverage through CHUBB, Combined Insurance, Boston Mutual, or another carrier. If you did not elect this type of coverage, you probably do not have it.

Why Supplemental Insurance Matters

A sickness, injury, surgery, or hospital stay can create expenses that RRB and The Hartford may not fully cover.

Private supplemental insurance may help with:

  • Lost income gaps
  • Hospital admission benefits
  • Accident treatment benefits
  • ICU or confinement benefits
  • Critical illness diagnosis benefits
  • Travel, lodging, or follow-up treatment costs
  • Household bills while out of work

Members should review their benefits before something happens. The worst time to find out what coverage you have is after an injury or sickness has already occurred.

What Members Should Do Now

Every member should check:

  • Do I have private supplemental accident coverage?
  • Do I have hospital indemnity coverage?
  • Do I have critical illness coverage?
  • Do I have short-term or long-term disability coverage?
  • Do I have voluntary life insurance?
  • Who is the carrier?
  • Where are the claim forms?
  • Does my family know where this information is?

If you are unsure, contact your benefits administrator or review your payroll deductions and enrollment summary.

Quick Summary

1. File for RRB Sickness Benefits

Get the forms from the Union locker, your employer, your labor organization, an RRB office, or the RRB website.

File as soon as possible.

RRB phone:

1-877-772-5772

2. Call The Hartford

Call The Hartford to start the railroad Supplemental Sickness Benefit claim.

Phone:

1-888-301-5615

Online:

https://www.thehartford.com/employee-benefits/employees

3. Set Up Online Accounts

RRB:

https://rrb.gov/Benefits/myRRB

The Hartford:

https://www.thehartford.com/employee-benefits/employees

4. Submit Continuing Claims

Continue filing required RRB claim forms and Hartford documents while you remain unable to work.

5. Check Your Private Supplemental Insurance

Private supplemental insurance is separate.

Most members may not have it unless they elected it. If you do have it, file those claims separately.

Examples:

  • Accident claim
  • Hospital claim
  • Critical illness claim
  • Disability claim
  • Life insurance claim

Final Reminder

Do not wait!

If life hits you with an injury, sickness, surgery, hospital stay, or time away from work, start the process immediately:

  1. RRB
  2. The Hartford
  3. Any private supplemental insurance you elected

Keep copies of every form, every claim number, and every document you send.

Write-up contributed by Local Secretary-Treasurer Julian Craine.

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