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105 Introduction 

The PIN/Password (PPW) system allows our customers to access specific internet 

services via the RRB website at WWW.RRB.GOV. The Benefit Online Services menu 

page displays the option to create a PPW account, as well as all other internet services 

options. The system provides the security necessary to protect the privacy of all users. 

Only current or former RR employees (not receiving an annuity) can establish a PPW 

account at this time.

Currently, employees who establish a PPW account will be able to access the following 

Benefit Online Services online:

• View Railroad Service and Compensation History

• Use Retirement Planner to request employee and spouse estimates (for 

employees who have not yet retired)

• Apply for Unemployment Benefits

• Claim Unemployment Benefits (for employees who have already filed an 

application for unemployment benefits)

• View RUIA Account Statement

The following is a list of terms you should know:

Term Definition

PRC PRC is the acronym for Password Request Code. The PRC is used to

validate the identity of the user and establish a PIN/Password account. A 

PRC is used only once (initially) to establish a PPW account. For security 

reasons, the PRC is mailed to the user’s address (as shown on RRB 

records.) A PRC never changes, expires 30 days after issuance and can 

be extended.

PIN The PIN is the user’s social security number. After entering the PRC, PIN 

and a password (created by the user) to successfully establish an

account, a user only needs to enter their PIN and password (for future log 

ins) to use our online services.

Password The password is created by the user according to the password rules on 

the Establish your Internet Account screen. After establishing an account, 

users have the option to change their password; or can request a new 

password via the PIN PASSWORD ADMINISTRATOR group mailbox. 

For security reasons, new passwords are mailed to the user’s address.
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After establishing an account, a user only needs to enter their PIN and 

password to log in.

The PPW system is used to establish a PIN/Password account. The system:

• Verifies the identity of the user by matching the user information to data in RRB 

records.

• Assigns and provides a Password Request Code (PRC). 

• When the PRC is received, the user enters the PRC, PIN (social security 

number) and password to establish the PPW account.

• The system validates the PRC and PIN and allows user access to online 

services.

• Once the account is established, only the PIN and password are needed for 

future log-ins.

When the user identification entries match the information on RRB records and the user 

enters appropriate entries for the password, a PPW account can be established 

completely online (without the intervention of any field office personnel or PPW System 

Administrators.) 

110 Web Page Design And Processing

110.1 Acknowledgement Page

When a first time user selects request a PRC from the Benefit Online Services menu

(see Section 110.7), the Acknowledgement page opens.
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The Acknowledgement page appears every time the PPW system is accessed. A user 

must access the PPW system to create a PPW account, change a password or login to 

a secure online service. The purpose of this page is to ensure that all users are notified 

of the effect of making a false/fraudulent statement to gain access to any of the internet 

services.

The user has the option to accept or cancel from this page. If the user clicks on the OK

button, the PPW Introduction page opens.

110.2 PPW Introduction Page

The PPW Introduction page provides customers with a brief explanation of the steps 

needed to establish a PPW account. 
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This explanation is followed by three choices:

• Request a Password Request Code (PRC)

• Establish your RRB Internet Account

• Internet Services Log In
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110.3 PRC Explanation Page

First time users will click request a PRC from the Benefit Online Services menu. Users 

then click on box 1 - Request a Password Request Code (PRC). This opens the PRC 

Explanation page which provides an explanation of the PRC and lists the information 

the user will have to provide.

A PRC is used to validate the identity of the user and establish a PPW account. The 

PPW system will assign an 8 character alpha/numeric PRC to validated users through 

the U.S. mail. Each user will receive a unique PRC which may not be shared, and must 

be used within 30 days from the date of the PRC letter. A PRC is used only once, to 

initially establish an account. 
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To begin the request for a PRC, users will be asked to indicate where they live. The 

choices are U.S., Canada or other. Clicking the Submit button will open the appropriate

PRC request form.

110.4 Request PRC Screen

The user should complete all items on the form. The PRC request forms (for U.S and 

Canadian residents) are displayed below:

(U.S.)
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(Canadian)

If a user clicks the Other button, the following message is displayed: 

The mandatory identification items are the railroad employee’s name, social security 

number, date of birth and address. These four items must be matched to the information 

in our records. After completing the items, the user will click the Submit button at the 

bottom of the screen.

The employee’s identification items must match our records. The system will validate 

the mandatory entries against EDM. If the entries match our records, the following 

message will appear:
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The text of the GL-60 PRC letter is shown (in the five paragraphs) below:

Your request for a Password Request Code (PRC) has been received and approved.

Your PRC is:

A PRC is used only once to establish a PIN/Password account on the RRB Web Site 

(WWW.RRB.GOV). To use your PRC, click on the Establish Internet Account link on the 

Benefit Online Services menu page. After successfully establishing your account, your 

PRC is no longer needed and may be discarded.

Please establish your account within 30 days. The PRC provided in this letter will expire 

30 days from the date of this letter. If this PRC expires, you will be required to contact 

the PPW System Administrator for a new letter.

If you have any problems establishing your account, please contact the PPW System 

Administrator through the link on the left of the PIN/Password web page. If you have 

any questions or need any other assistance, please contact your local field office. The 

field office responsible for providing assistance to you is located at:

If the mandatory entries do not match our records, the following message will appear:

After five failed attempts, the user is referred to the field office for assistance. The field 

office action is described under Field Office Responsibilities/Functions (Section 115 of 

this procedure.)

110.5 Establish Your Internet Account Screen

When users receive a PRC, they will access the RRB website Benefit Online Services

menu page and select Establish Internet Account (After PRC received). After clicking 

OK on the Acknowledgement page, the Establish your Internet Account screen opens.

This screen briefly explains the necessity of a PRC. It then explains password rules.
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The user makes the following required entries: PRC, PIN (enters own social security 

number), Create Your Password (created by user according to explained rules), Reenter Password (re-enters password for confirmation.) Users must create passwords 

that are between 8 and 15 characters. The password can be comprised of A through Z, 

a through z, 0 through 9, pound (#) and star (*). After completing the entries, the user 

clicks the Submit button at the bottom of the screen.
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The system will validate the PRC and PIN against information in the PPW module. The 

system also checks that the password is in the specified format. If the match is 

successful, the following message will appear:

If the PRC and PIN cannot be validated, the appropriate error message will appear. All 

error messages on this screen will include the statement: Please check your entries and 

try again. The user will be allowed five attempts, then, locked out of the session. The 

user must completely exit the PPW system and try again.

This screen provides a link to Contact an RRB office near you and PPW System 

Administrator group mailbox if the user needs assistance. 

110.6 Log In Screen

After successfully establishing a RRB account, the first time user is taken to the Log In

screen. Users who already have an account established, can access the Log In screen 

by clicking Login Now from the Benefit Online Services menu.
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The Log In screen requires the user enter a PIN (social security number) and Password. 

After entering a PIN and Password, the user clicks the Login button. The system will 

validate the PIN and Password. If they are valid, the Benefit Online Services menu page

opens.

If the PIN and Password are not validated, an error message will appear. This screen 

provides a link to Contact an RRB office near you and PPW System Administrator if the 

user needs assistance.

Users who have established a PPW account and forget the password may request a

new password from this screen by clicking Forgot your password. The PPW system will 

assign a new password and mail it to the user’s home address on record. The text of 

the GL-60a reset password letter is shown (in the four paragraphs) below:

Your request for a new password has been received and approved.

Your new password is:

You need to enter this password and your PIN to access certain Internet services on the 

RRB Web Site (WWW.RRB.GOV). To use your new password, you must click on the 

Login Now link on the Benefit Online Services menu page. After successfully logging in, 

you may change your password by clicking on Change Password from the Benefit 

Online Services menu.
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If you have any problems logging in, please contact the PPW System Administrator 

through the link on the left of the PIN/Password web page. If you have any questions or 

need any other assistance, please contact your local field office. The field office 

responsible for providing assistance to you is located at:

Users with an established PPW account have the option of changing their password 

whenever they want. The option to change passwords is selected from the Benefit 

Online Services menu page. 

110.7 Benefit Online Services Menu Page
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This page provides the selection of internet services available. The services requiring a 

PPW account are listed at the bottom. (Section 105 of this procedure describes the 

services currently available to users with PPW accounts.) Click More info to open a 

question/answer page of frequently asked PPW questions.

Links available to users:

• All pages/screens provide a link to Contact an RRB office near you. Users may 

use this link to contact their field office for assistance.

• All pages/screens provide a link to the PIN PASSWORD ADMINISTRATOR 

group mailbox for assistance. The link opens an e-mail template (see below) 

which can be used to transmit a message to the Administrator
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115 Field Office Responsibilities/Functions

The field office’s primary responsibility is to correct RRB records when they conflict with 

user input and answer general questions about the system. The pages/screens contain 

prompts and messages guiding the user through the process. Most accounts should be 

established completely online. However, when the user receives an error message, the 

field office may be contacted. 

Section 115.1 describes specific inquiries such as when the records don’t match, PRC 

extensions, SSN already in the system, new password doesn’t work, locked and 

fraudulent accounts. Section 115.2 describes general inquiries such as forgotten 

passwords, new employees and/or employees receiving an annuity requesting an online 

account, and security issues regarding our mailings. Sections 115.1 and 115.2 are

organized in Question/Answer information blocks. 

115.1 Specific Inquiries

Question –

Records Don’t

Match

Answer

I am getting the 

message that my 

records do not 

match RRB’s 

records. What 

should I do? 

This is the most common situation a field office will encounter. It 

occurs when the user is requesting a PRC and enters identification 

information that does not match the information on RRB records.

NOTE: The four identification items are the RR employee’s name, 

date of birth, social security number and street address. All four 

items must match what we have on EDM before the system can 

approve the PRC request. (See explanation below.)

The PRC request form requires all identification entries to be completed. This 

information is being stored in the PPW system for audit purposes. The items that must 

be an exact match for PPW validation are as follows:

• EE Name – first initial, middle initial and first 10 characters of last name

• SSN – full social security number

• Address US or Canadian – first 4 positions of street address 

• Address Canadian – province 

• Date of birth – month and year (If the day is missing from EDM, this will not 

cause a reject.) 
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NOTE: The third bullet above indicates the address must match on the first 4 positions.

The address must be entered online exactly as it appears on EDM. If there is a space 

on EDM, enter the space online. In the examples below, the positions matched against 

EDM are shown in BOLD:

• 123 Main St (1 2 3 space - matched)

• 1234 Main St (1 2 3 4 - matched)

• P.O. Box 123 (P period O period – matched)

• P O Box 123 (P space O space – matched)

• PO Box 123 (P O space B – matched)

When requesting the PRC, if one or more of these items do not match our records, an 

error message will appear. As a security measure, the error message will not specify 

which item does not match. The user will be advised to contact his nearest field office 

for assistance. The field office must correct our records to correspond with the user 

information before a PRC can be assigned. 

Handle these cases as follows:

When items do not match,

1. Compare all four items provided by the user against EDM (Refer to FOM1 130.50

for procedure on confirming the identity of callers.)

2. Determine which item(s) is incorrect

3. Verify and correct the item(s) on EDM

To correct the address, refer to FOM1 1595.33.

NOTE: Canadian addresses must be in a specific format to match. Refer 

to FOM1 1705.15.8 for valid province abbreviations.

To correct the name, date of birth or social security number refer to FOM 

V Art.6 Chapter 609.01.

4. After our records are corrected have the user resubmit the PRC request, or; you 

may submit the PRC request for the user. (It may be helpful to view the web 

pages along with the user.) The PRC request may be resubmitted immediately. If 

the PRC request is still not being accepted, send an e-mail to the PIN Password 

Administrator group mailbox. (NOTE: Use the standard Outlook e-mail message 

format. Do not use the e-G-115 General Inquiry Form template when sending 

inquiries to the PIN Password Administrator group mailbox.) In the subject line 
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indicate PPW. In your message state that the problem is a PRC request. The 

PPW System Administrator will request the PRC bypassing EDM edits. 

Question – PRC 

Extension

Answer

My PRC expired. Can I 

get another PRC?

Once assigned to a person, a PRC never changes. A PRC, 

however, will expire if not used within 30 days from the date of 

the PRC letter. If someone needs a PRC extension, contact 

the PPW System Administrator via a (standard format) e-mail 

message sent to the PIN PASSWORD ADMINISTRATOR 

group mailbox. Enter PPW in the subject line. In the message, 

indicate that the PRC needs to be extended. The PPW 

System Administrator will extend the expiration for another 30 

days by reprinting the PRC letter. 

Question – SSN 

Already in System

Answer

I am trying to request a 

PRC and receiving the 

message that my

social security number

is already in the PPW 

system. I don’t 

remember requesting a 

PRC before. What 

should I do?

If the social security number is already in the system, it means 

that person has requested and been approved for a PRC. If 

he/she does not remember receiving a PRC letter, another 

letter can be released. If the person has already used the 

PRC to establish an account and does not remember doing 

so, the person may need a new password. In either case, 

send a (standard format) e-mail message to the PIN 

PASSWORD ADMINISTRATOR group mailbox. Enter PPW in 

the subject line and provide the social security number. The 

PPW System Administrator will look up the account and take 

appropriate action.

Question - New 

Password Doesn’t 

Work

Answer

I received a new 

password in the mail 

and can’t get it to work.

What should I do? 

One possibility is that the person is not entering the new 

password correctly. The password entry is case sensitive and 

must be entered exactly as it appears in the letter. The other

situation is that the person has incorrectly gone to the 

Establish Your Internet Account screen instead of the Log In

screen. After receiving a new password, a user (with an 

established account) needs to click on the Login Now link on 

the Benefit Online Services menu. This will open the Log In
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screen, where the user enters his/her PIN (social security 

number) and the new password to login. 

Question – Account

Locked

Answer

I tried to log in and now 

my account is locked. 

What should I do?

As a security measure, an account gets locked when the 

wrong password is entered three times. Only the PPW System 

Administrator can unlock an account. When the user gets the 

error message informing them that their account has now 

been locked, the link to the PPW System Administrator 

appears in the message. Most users will click the link and ask 

the PPW System Administrator for assistance. However, 

some users may feel more comfortable contacting their local 

RRB field office for help. You should send a (standard format)

e-mail to the PIN PASSWORD ADMINISTRATOR group 

mailbox. Enter PPW in the subject line. Request that the 

account be unlocked.

Question –

Fraudulent Account

Answer

I believe someone else 

established (or tried to 

establish) an account 

under my social 

security number. What 

should I do?

Field Service should notify the PPW System Administrator 

immediately. Send a (standard format) e-mail message to the 

PIN PASSWORD ADMINISTRATOR group mailbox. Enter 

PPW in the subject line and provide the social security 

number. The PPW System Administrators will take 

appropriate action. 

115.2 General Inquiries 

Question –

Forgotten/Lost 

Password

Answer

I forgot my password. 

Can I get another one? 

If so, how?

A person can request a new password by clicking on the 

Request New Password link on the Benefit Online Services 

menu page, or the Forgot your password link on the Log In 

screen. The system will assign a new password to the person 

and release it in a letter mailed to the address on our records.

When the person receives the letter, they should login with the 

new password.

Question – New 

Employee

Answer
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I just started working 

for the railroad and 

would like to obtain a 

PIN/Password account.

The system is telling 

me that my social 

security number is not 

in the database. Can I 

get a PIN/Password?

Employees cannot get a PIN/Password account if they started 

working for the railroad during the current year; or if they

received a BA-6 form and their birth date is shown as 99-99.

Question – Employee 

Receiving an Annuity

Answer

I am receiving an 

annuity and would like 

a PIN/Password 

account. I am receiving 

the message that my 

information does not 

match your records. 

Can I get a 

PIN/Password 

account?

We are using the records of current and former railroad 

employees (EDM) for online validation. We are not using the 

records of people already receiving benefits. That is why the 

information is not matching. We have no internet services for 

annuitants. They do not need PIN/Password accounts. 

Question – Security 

Mailings

Answer

Can you e-mail my 

PRC or password to 

me?

No. For security reasons, all PRCs and Passwords are 

released through the U. S. mail. 

Field offices will answer general questions about the system. If you receive a question 

that is not addressed in this procedure, contact the PIN PASSWORD 

ADMINISTRATOR group mailbox. (NOTE: Use the standard Outlook e-mail message 

format.) Notate in the subject line or first line of the message that it refers to 

PIN/Password (PPW). 

120 PPW System Administrator Responsibilities/Functions

The PPW System Administrators’ primary responsibility is to maintain and monitor the 

PIN/Password system.

General duties include:

• Releasing PRC letters
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• Unlocking user accounts

• Responding to user inquiries

• Responding to field office requests for assistance

• Referring user inquiries to a field office when appropriate

• Assigning new passwords

• Managing user accounts

• Managing administrative accounts

• Compiling reports

• Coordinating the display of a message when the system is down

Inquiries - Users may contact the PPW System Administrators at any time for a variety 

of reasons. The majority of the inquiries concern PRC and password issues. These 

include:

• PRC extensions

• Forgotten/lost passwords

Users may also contact the PPW System Administrators about:

• PRC and PIN problems establishing the account

• PIN and Password problems while attempting to Log In

• Password format problems

If the PPW System Administrators receive an inquiry that involves correcting EDM, the 

inquiry will be referred to the appropriate field office for handling. Most user inquiries are 

received online. The PPW System Administrators will respond to the user via e-mail.

If the user contacts the field office for help and you cannot assist them, you should 

forward the inquiry to the PIN PASSWORD ADMINISTRATOR group mailbox. (NOTE: 

Use the standard Outlook e-mail message format.) Include the individual’s e-mail 

address. The PPW System Administrators will respond to the user directly. Field office 

inquiries will be given priority handling.