I-D: Interactions with Employers

Ensure efficient and effective business interactions with covered railroad employers

Other Information:

To correctly pay benefits, the RRB must receive timely and accurate reports of the wages and service months of covered employees. It is the responsibility of the employer to provide these reports with respect to its employees. To ensure the receipt of accurate and timely forms, reports, and payments, the RRB must strive to provide rail employers with reporting processes that are easily understood, that place minimal burden on the employers, and ensure compliance with applicable laws and guidelines. To accomplish this, the RRB intends to: Continue to develop electronic services that enable the employer to conduct daily business transactions and file required reports in an efficient, effective manner. Annual employer reports filed electronically, or on magnetic media, of wages and service months of covered employees now cover 98% of all employees. This reduces the reporting burden on covered employers and helps to improve the accuracy and timeliness of the reports. We have identified 74 forms that we use to conduct business with covered employers. Our long-term aim is to review all these business interactions and determine if we can be more efficient by providing the capacity to initiate and retrieve this information via the Internet or other electronic means. We are accomplishing this objective using a multi-faceted approach as follows: The Employer Reporting System (ERS) is an interactive web-based system which currently makes four forms available on the Internet. We are testing two additional forms which will be available for employers to use during fiscal year 2006, and have defined software requirements for several additional forms. We are also looking for ways to streamline the reporting process by consolidating the number of forms requiring completion. Employers have been given access to make lien recovery payments through the Department of the Treasury’s web-based Pay.gov. In the coming months, registered employers will also be able to receive bill notifications electronically. We have just implemented a process for providing employers with quotes for lien settlements via secure e-mail. The use of secure e-mail will expand as our experience with it grows, and proper information collection clearances have been obtained. Continue to look for ways to encourage employers to file accurate and timely annual service and compensation reports. We will continue and expand on our training programs to provide employers with needed assistance.

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