UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 1

Program

Letter

 United States

 Railroad Retirement Board

 Office of Programs

 

Quality Reporting Service Center

E-Mail: QRSC@rrb.gov 

Phone: (312) 751-4992

 Fax: (312) 751-7123

Letter No. 2008-05 Date: December 27, 2007

 [Revised March 7, 2018]

TO: Certification Contact Officials

SUBJECT: FTP and E-mail Submission of Reporting Forms

 Form BA-3, Annual Report of Creditable Compensation

 Form BA-4, Report of Creditable Compensation Adjustments

 Form BA-6a, Form BA-6 Address Report 

 Form BA-9, Report of Separation Allowance or Severance Pay

 Form BA-11, Report of Gross Earnings

Please share this information with members of your staff who file the forms listed above, as 

well as programming staff who support these functions.

Background

Service and compensation information for employees who work for employers covered under the 

Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), are maintained by the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) for the 

purpose of administering the RRA and Railroad Unemployment and Insurance Act (RUIA). 

Employee address records are maintained by the RRB for the purpose of mailing Form BA-6, 

Certificate of Service Months and Compensation, to those same employees. 

Covered employers are required, by the last day of February, to submit Form BA-3, Annual 

Report of Creditable Compensation, for all employees who performed compensated service in 

the previous year and Form BA-11, Report of Gross Earnings, for all employees whose social 

security number ends with the digits “30.” Employers may also submit employee mailing 

addresses on annual Form BA-3 (rather than submitting a separate Form BA-6a, Form BA-6 

Address Report). Employers are also required to submit Form BA-4, Report of Creditable 

Compensation Adjustments, as necessary to report adjustments to previously submitted service 

and compensation reports. Additionally, employers are required to submit Form BA-9, Report of 

Separation Allowance and Severance Pay, when such payments are made to employees.

New Reporting Options

The RRB now offers file transfer protocol (FTP) interchange and e-mail as options for 

submitting Form BA-3, BA-4, BA-6a, BA-9 and BA-11 report files. The new options may be 

used starting with the reporting season that begins January 1, 2008. New record layouts are also 

effective as of January 1, 2008. (See Attachments A through E.) Information on accurate data 

content and format is available in the Employer Reporting Instructions.
UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 2

Privacy and Security Considerations

Because RRB reporting forms contain sensitive personal information such as social security 

numbers, we must exchange information securely to ensure that no one can intercept and read or 

alter the information. Accordingly, we are required to take security precautions that meet 

standards currently prescribed by the National Institute of Standards (NIST).

FTP Interchange

 What is FTP and how does it work?

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is used to transfer files between two computers by sending 

data over a data communications network such as the Internet. 

FTP transfers require a FTP server and a FTP client. The FTP server continuously waits 

or “listens” for incoming connection requests that are initiated by FTP clients. In order to 

complete the connection, the FTP server will require the FTP client to authenticate itself 

by providing a valid set of credentials; typically a valid username and password. If the 

credentials supplied to the server by the client are valid, the FTP server will allow the 

connection to be completed. Once the connection is completed, the client may download 

files from the FTP server, upload files to the FTP server or modify existing files on the 

server depending on the FTP server’s access controls and existing agreements between

the participating parties.

 How will FTP protect data? 

To ensure the confidentiality of personally identifiable data such as social security 

numbers, the RRB requires Secure FTP (SFTP) data transfers. We also prefer to use 

Open PGP encryption utilizing a Public/Private key pair to ensure that the data is 

encrypted at all times. SFTP uses an encrypted connection on TCP port 22. Generally, 

the process involves the reporting employer creating a public/private encryption key pair 

and sending the public key to the RRB for authentication purposes. If the employer 

wanted the RRB to send the output files back to one of their servers, then the RRB would 

also create a public/private key pair and send the RRB’s public key as well.

 How is an FTP Interchange with the RRB established?

The first step in this process is for the RRB and each interested employer to agree upon 

and then implement the specific procedures and programming needed to allow FTP 

interchanges. The most likely method will be via the Internet. The employer would then 

act as the “server” and the RRB would act as the “client.” RRB personnel in the 

Compensation and Employer Service Center (CESC) would be provided access to the 

railroad’s secure FTP server through a designated user ID and password. Once the 

applicable compensation/service information is ready to be conveyed to the RRB via the 

reporting forms, the employer would fax a completed Form G-440, Reports Specification 

Sheet (which must be signed by an authorized employer official), to notify CESC of a 

pending report. The RRB would then use desktop FTP software to access and download 

the information at an agreed-upon time and location. You may contact the Quality 

Reporting Service Center of CESC for additional information or instructions on 

implementing FTP exchanges with the RRB. The e mail address and telephone number 

are shown at the top of this letter.
UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 3

E-mail Submissions

 Why use secure e-mail?

Because the forms contain sensitive personal information such as social security 

numbers, we must exchange information securely to insure that no one can intercept and 

read or alter the information. To meet NIST security requirements, all e-mail messages 

we exchange must be encrypted and signed with a Digital ID, and information will be 

protected in accordance with security controls outlined in NIST guidance 800-53.

 Why do I need a Digital ID or certificate?

A Digital ID or certificate is a computer file that identifies the sender. E-mail software 

uses this file to "digitally" sign e-mail messages to prove a sender’s identity to the 

recipient’s computer.

A digital signature does two things:

• It lets the recipient of the e-mail confirm the identity of the sender, and

• It tells the recipient that the e-mail was not tampered with in transit.

A Digital ID typically contains the following information:

• Your public key

• Your name and e-mail address Expiration date of the public key

• Name of the company [Certification Authority (CA)] who issued your Digital ID

• Serial number of the Digital ID

• Digital signature of the CA

 How will encryption protect data?

To encrypt (scramble) data we use a system with two keys. The key pair consists of a 

public and a private key. The keys are used like keys in a lock, except the key pair 

requires one key to secure the lock and another to open the lock.

When you request and install a Digital ID, your Web browser creates both a private key 

that can only be used with the Digital ID you requested, and a public key that becomes 

part of your Digital ID. Access to your private key will be password protected.

With key pairs, your e-mail application will use the RRB’s public key to encrypt 

messages you send to us. The RRB, upon receipt of your encrypted e-mail message, will 

use our matching private key to decrypt the message.

 How do I exchange a secure e-mail with the RRB?

Before you can send the RRB an encrypted message, you must first get our public key. 

You do this by simply requesting we send you a signed e-mail message, which contains 

our Digital ID and public key. Then your e-mail application can automatically store the 

RRB’s Digital ID with public key in your contacts folder until you need to use it. Your 

e-mail application uses the RRB public key to encrypt the messages you send to us. 

From that point on, only the RRB's private key can decrypt the message.

When the RRB sends you an encrypted message, we will use your public key. Once the e 

mail message is encrypted with your public key, only those individuals in your 

organization who have the matching private key can decrypt the message.
UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 4

Steps:

1. Acquire a Digital ID from a company called a Certification Authority (CA), for 

example, Verisign or Thawte Certification. The cost of an individual Digital ID is 

about $20.00 per year.

2. Once you have received and installed a Digital ID, distribute it to the RRB by sending 

an e-mail message to the cesc@rrb.gov mailbox. The Digital ID that you send 

contains your public key. This will allow the RRB to send you encrypted e-mail 

messages using your public key. Only you will have the corresponding private key 

that allows you to decrypt the RRB reply.

3. The RRB will acknowledge your e-mail submission by sending you our public key 

for the cesc@rrb.gov mailbox. This will allow you to send encrypted e-mail requests 

containing the RRB’s public key. Only the RRB will have the corresponding private 

key to decrypt the e-mail message.

4. Once the parties have stored each other’s Digital IDs, all further e-mail exchanges can 

be made securely.

Please follow the same provisions regarding completion and submission of Form G-440 as 

previously described.

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) Notice

Federal agencies may not conduct or sponsor, and respondents are not required to respond to, 

any collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB number. If you wish, send 

comments regarding the accuracy of our estimates or any other aspect of these forms, including 

suggestions for reducing completion time, to Associate Chief Information Officer for Policy and 

Compliance, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 N. Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611-1275.

 Form BA-3 

The information contained in this report (see Attachment A), which is required by law 

under Section 9 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) and Section 6 of the Railroad 

Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA), is needed to pay RRA and RUIA benefits and is 

authorized for collection under OMB control number 3220-0008 . This report is due at 

the Railroad Retirement Board by no later than the last day of February after the report 

year. Failure to report or the making of a false or fraudulent report can result in criminal 

prosecution or civil penalties, or both. We estimate the electronic version of this form, 

transmitted by e-mail or FTP, takes an average of 46.25 hours per response to complete, 

including time for reviewing the instructions, getting the needed data, and reviewing the 

completed form.

 Form BA-4 

The information contained in this report (see Attachment B), which is required by law 

under Section 9 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) and Section 6 of the Railroad 

Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA), is needed to adjust compensation and service 

creditable under the RRA and RUIA and is authorized for collection under OMB control 

number 3220-0008. Failure to report or the making of a false or fraudulent report can 
UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 5

result in criminal prosecution or civil penalties, or both. We estimate the electronic 

version of this form, transmitted by e-mail or FTP, takes an average of 1 hour per 

response to complete, including time for reviewing the instructions, getting the needed 

data, and reviewing the completed form.

 Form BA-6a

The information specified on this form (see Attachment C), which is required by law 

under Section 7(b)(6) of the Railroad Retirement Act and Section 209.12 of the Code of 

Federal Regulations and is authorized for collection under OMB control number 3220-

0005, will be used by the Railroad Retirement Board to mail to the employees of your 

company Form BA 6, Certificate of Service Months and Compensation. Failure to report 

or the making of a false or fraudulent report can result in criminal prosecution or civil 

penalties or both. We estimate the electronic version of this form, transmitted by e-mail 

or FTP, takes an average of 15 minutes per response to complete, including time for 

reviewing the instructions, getting the needed data, and reviewing the completed form.

 Form BA-9

The information contained in this report (see Attachment D), which is required by law 

under Section 9 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) and Section 6 of the Railroad 

Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) and is authorized for collection under OMB 

control number 3220 0173, is needed for two purposes: to establish eligibility for an 

additional lump-sum amount under the RRA and to establish a disqualification period 

under the RUIA. Failure to report or the making of a false or fraudulent report can result 

in criminal prosecution or civil penalties, or both. We estimate the electronic version of 

this form, transmitted by e-mail or FTP, takes an average of 1.25 hours per response to 

complete, including time for reviewing the instructions, getting the needed data, and 

reviewing the completed form.

 Form BA-11

The purpose of this report (see Attachment E), which is required by Section 7(b)(6) of the 

Railroad Retirement Act and is authorized for collection under OMB control number 

3220 0132, is to obtain the gross earnings for a sample of employees. This information is 

required for computation of the Financial Interchange with the Social Security 

Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The report is due at 

the Railroad Retirement Board by no later than the last day of February following the 

report year. Failure to report or the making of a false or fraudulent report can result in 

criminal prosecution or civil penalties, or both. We estimate the electronic version of this 

form, transmitted by e-mail or FTP, takes an average of 30 minutes per response to 

complete, including time for reviewing the instructions, getting the needed data, and 

reviewing the completed form.

Attachments to This Letter

Attachment A: Electronic file format for Form BA-3, Annual Report of Creditable Compensation

Attachment B: Electronic file format for Form BA-4, Report of Creditable Compensation Adjustments

Attachment C: Electronic file format for Form BA-6a, Form BA-6 Address Report

Attachment D: Electronic file format for Form BA-9, Report of Separation Allowance or 

 Severance Pay

Attachment E Electronic file format for Form BA-11, Report of Gross Earnings

###
UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 6

RRB Program Letter 2008-05, Attachment A

Electronic File Format for Form BA-3, Annual Report of Creditable Compensation

Field 

Length

Record 

Position Data and Instructions

1 1 "0" (zero).

4 2-5 Four-digit year being reported.

1 6 "7"

4 7-10 Four-digit BA number assigned by the Railroad Retirement 

Board.

10 11-20

Entries in this field are optional. The “Payroll ID” reference 

number shown here will be included on certain correspondence 

to the employer to assist the employer in locating the employee.

9 21-29 Employee's social security number.

20 30-49

First twenty (20) characters of the employee's surname. Spaces 

in such names as Mc Carthy, St Clair, De La Cross are 

acceptable.

15 50-64 First fifteen (15) characters of the employee's first name.

1 65 Employee’s middle initial.

7 66-72

RUIA I ($$$$$¢¢) – Total compensation which is creditable 

under the RUIA to qualify for benefits. This amount should not 

exceed the RUIA I monthly maximum times 12.

2 73-74 Blank Filler.

7 75-81

RUIA II ($$$$$¢¢) – Total compensation which is creditable 

under the RUIA to determine maximum benefits. This amount 

should not exceed the RUIA II monthly maximum times 12.

2 82-83 Blank Filler.

12 84-95

84-Jan

85-Feb

86-March

87-April

88-May

89-June

90-July

91-Aug

92-Sept

93-Oct

94-Nov

95-Dec

Service Month Detail - The code corresponding to 

the employment relation for a non-work month.

Code 1 = worked

Code 8 = not worked but has employment relation

Code 9 = not worked & has no employment relation

Code 0 = not worked & employment relation 

unknown

NOTE: You cannot mix all four codes. You must 

either use codes 1, 8, & 9 or codes 1 & 0. All 12 

positions must be filled.

2 96-97 Service Month Total - The sum of the characters in positions 84-

95. Enter zeroes if no months are reported.

8 98-105 Creditable Tier I compensation, up to the annual maximum for 

the year ($$$$$$¢¢).

2 106-107 Blank Filler.
UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 7

Field 

Length

Record 

Position Data and Instructions

8 108-115 Creditable Tier II compensation, up to the annual maximum for 

the year ($$$$$$¢¢).

2 116-117 Blank Filler.

5 118-122 Last daily pay rate ($$$¢¢). If pay rate exceeds $200.00, enter 

20000.

2 123-124 Blank Filler.

8 125-132 Creditable Miscellaneous compensation ($$$$$$¢¢).

2 133-134 Blank Filler.

8 135-142 Creditable Sick Pay compensation ($$$$$$¢¢).

3 143-145 Blank Filler.

30 146-175 Mailing Address Line 1 (Street Number, Post Office Box, etc.).

30 176-205 Mailing Address Line 2.

20 206-225 City

2 226-227 State

5 228-232 Zip Code

8 233-240 Effective date of the address information (MMDDCCYY).

60 241-300 Blank Filler (For future expansion).

NOTE: The file should be saved as a text (*.txt) file with the record format listed above. Reports 

submitted on CD ROM, secure email, or FTP must be accompanied by Form G-440, "Report 

Specifications Sheet".
UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 8

RRB Program Letter 2008-05, Attachment B

Electronic File Format for Form BA-4, Report of Creditable Compensation Adjustments

Field 

Length

Record 

Position Data and Instructions

2 96-97 Service Month Total - The sum of the characters in positions 84-95. 

Enter zeros if no months are reported.

8 98-105 Creditable Tier I compensation, up to the annual maximum for the 

year ($$$$$$¢¢). 

2 106-107 Blank Filler.

8 108-115 Creditable Tier II compensation, up to the annual maximum for the 

year ($$$$$$¢¢). 

2 116-117 Blank Filler. 

5 118-122 Last daily pay rate. ($$$¢¢) If pay rate exceeds $200.00, enter 20000. 

2 123-124 Blank Filler.

8 125-132 Creditable Miscellaneous compensation ($$$$$$¢¢). 

2 133-134 Blank Filler. 

8 135-142 Creditable Sick Pay compensation ($$$$$$¢¢). 

58 143-200 Blank Filler (For future expansion).

NOTE: The file should be saved as a text (*.txt) file with the record format listed above. Reports 

submitted on CD ROM, secure email, or FTP must be accompanied by Form G-440, "Report 

Specifications Sheet".
UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 9

RRB Program Letter 2008-05, Attachment C

Electronic File Format for Form BA-6a, Form BA-6 Address Report

Field 

Length

Record 

Position Data and Instructions

9 1-9 The employee's 9-digit social security number.

15 10-24 First fifteen (15) characters of the employee's first 

name.

1 25 Employee’s middle initial.

20 26-45

First twenty (20) characters of the employee's 

surname. Spaces in such names as Mc Carthy, St 

Clair, De La Cross are acceptable.

30 46-75 Mailing Address Line 1 (Street Number, Post Office 

Box, etc.).

30 76-105 Mailing Address Line 2.

20 106-125 City

2 126-127 State

5 128-132 Zip Code

8 133-140 Blank Filler.

4 141-144 Four-digit BA number assigned by the Railroad 

Retirement Board.

8 145-152 Effective date of information (MMDDCCYY).

28 153-180 Blank Filler.

NOTE: The file should be saved as a text (*.txt) file with the record format listed above. Reports 

submitted on CD ROM, secure email, or FTP must be accompanied by Form G-440, "Report 

Specifications Sheet".
UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 10

RRB Program Letter 2008-05, Attachment D

Electronic File Format for Form BA-9, Report of Separation Allowance and Severance Pay

Field 

Length

Record 

Position Data and Instructions

1 1 "L"

4 2-5 Four-digit applicable tax year being reported.

1 6 Code "4" for an initial report or an increase adjustment.

Code "M" for a decrease adjustment.

4 7-10 Four-digit BA number assigned by the Railroad Retirement Board.

9 11-19 Employee's social security number.

20 20-39 First twenty (20) characters of the employee's surname. Spaces in 

such names as Mc Carthy, St Clair, and De La Cross are acceptable.

15 40-54 First fifteen (15) characters of the employee's first name. 

1 55 Employee’s middle initial.

1 56 Blank Filler.

8 57-64

An eight-digit separation allowance amount. Do not use a decimal 

place. The format is $$$$$$cc. For adjustments, enter the net increase 

amount to be applied to the initial report. Do not sign the field. Zeros 

should be used to fill the left most positions, if necessary.

1 65 

Code 1 for an initial report.

Code 2 for an adjustment report.

Code 3 for a periodic payment - not the final payment.

Code 4 for a periodic payment - final payment.

8 66-73 Date employee relinquished employment rights. Format is 

MMDDCCYY.

1 74 Blank Filler.

8 75-82

Eight-digit compensation amount. Do not use a decimal place. Format 

is ($$$$$$cc). Do not sign the field. Zeros should be used to fill the 

left most positions if necessary. Field may be left blank.

4 83-86 Four-digit applicable creditable year being reported.

6 87-92 Total gross amount of separation in whole dollars, $$$$$$. Use zero 

to fill the left most positions as needed.

1 93 Blank Filler.
UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 11

Field 

Length

Record 

Position Data and Instructions

7 94-100

Show the last rate of pay. Format includes a floating decimal place to 

account for hourly through monthly rates. For example, 9.99999, 

99.9999, 999.999, etc.

1 101

The code corresponding to the period to which the rate applies.

Code 1 = Per Hour

Code 2 = Per Day

Code 3 = Per Week

Code 4 = Per Month

1 102

The code corresponding to the employee's normal work week.

Code 5 = Five-Day Week

Code 6 = Six-Day Week

Code 7 = Seven-Day Week

Code 8 = Train and Engine Service

Code 9 = Dining Car and Pullman Service

18 103-120 Blank Filler.

NOTE: The file should be saved as a text (*.txt) file with the record format listed above. Reports 

submitted on CD ROM, secure email, or FTP must be accompanied by Form G-440, "Report 

Specifications Sheet".
UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 12

RRB Program Letter 2008-05, Attachment E

Electronic File Format for Form BA-11, Report of Gross Earnings

Report of Gross Earnings (Annual Earnings)

Field 

Length

Record 

Position Data and Instructions

2 1-2 "40"

4 3-6 Year being reported (CCYY).

4 7-10 Four-digit employer BA number assigned by the Railroad 

Retirement Board.

9 11-19

Employee's social security account number.

NOTE: Report only those employees whose social security 

number ends with the digits “30”. 

20 20-39

First twenty (20) characters of the employee's surname. 

Spaces in such names as O Grady or De La Cross are 

acceptable.

15 40-54 First fifteen (15) characters of the employee's first name.

1 55 Employee’s middle initial.

9 56-64 Annual Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by 

zero(s) if necessary.

56 65-120 Leave blank or zero-fill.

NOTE: The file should be saved as a text (*.txt) file with the record format listed above. Reports 

submitted on CD ROM, secure email, or FTP must be accompanied by Form G-440, "Report 

Specifications Sheet".

Report of Gross Earnings (Quarterly Earnings)

Field 

Length

Record 

Position Data and Instructions

2 1-2 "39"

4 3-6 Year being reported (CCYY).

4 7-10

Four-digit employer BA number assigned by the Railroad 

Retirement Board.
UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 13

Report of Gross Earnings (Quarterly Earnings)

Field 

Length

Record 

Position Data and Instructions

9 11-19

Employee's social security account number.

NOTE: Report only those employees whose social security 

number ends with the digits “30”. 

20 20-39

First twenty (20) characters of the employee's surname. 

Spaces in such names as O Grady or De La Cross are 

acceptable.

15 40-54 First fifteen (15) characters of the employee's first name.

1 55 Employee’s middle initial.

9 56-64

First Quarter Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded 

by zero(s) if necessary. If there are no earnings for first 

quarter, leave positions 54-64 blank or zero-fill.

9 65-73

Second Quarter Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), 

preceded by zero(s) if necessary. If there are no earnings for 

second quarter, leave positions 65-73 blank or zero-fill.

9 74-82

Third Quarter Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded 

by zero(s) if necessary. If there are no earnings for third 

quarter, leave positions 74-82 blank or zero-fill.

9 83-91

Fourth Quarter Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded 

by zero(s) if necessary. If there are no earnings for fourth 

quarter, leave positions 83-91 blank or zero-fill.

29 92-120 Leave blank or zero-fill.

NOTE: The file should be saved as a text (*.txt) file with the record format listed above. Reports 

submitted on CD ROM, secure email, or FTP must be accompanied by Form G-440, "Report 

Specifications Sheet".

NOTE: When completing a monthly Report of Gross Earnings (see electronic file format on page 

14), two 120 position records must be keyed whether or not both records have earnings. (Where 

one record does not contain money fields, positions 1-55 must have data.) The file should be saved 

as a text (*.txt) file with the record format listed below. Reports submitted on CD ROM, secure 

email, or FTP must be accompanied by Form G-440, "Report Specifications Sheet".
UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 14

Report of Gross Earnings (Monthly Earnings)

Record No. 1 - January through June

Field 

Length

Record 

Position Data and Instructions

2 1-2 "28"

4 3-6 Year being reported (CCYY).

4 7-10 Four-digit employer BA number assigned by the Railroad 

Retirement Board.

9 11-19

Employee's social security account number.

NOTE: Report only those employees whose social security 

number ends with the digits “30”. 

20 20-39

First twenty (20) characters of the employee's surname. 

Spaces in such names as O Grady or De La Cross are 

acceptable.

15 40-54 First fifteen (15) characters of the employee's first name.

1 55 Employee’s middle initial.

9 56-64

January Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by 

zero(s) if necessary. If there are no earnings for January, 

leave positions 56-64 blank or zero-fill.

9 65-73

February Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by 

zero(s) if necessary. If there are no earnings for February, 

leave positions 65-73 blank or zero-fill.

9 74-82

March Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by 

zero(s) if necessary. If there are no earnings for March, leave 

positions 74-82 blank or zero-fill.

9 83-91

April Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by zero(s) 

if necessary. If there are no earnings for April, leave 

positions 83-91 blank or zero-fill.

9 92-100

May Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by zero(s) 

if necessary. If there are no earnings for May, leave positions 

92-100 blank or zero-fill.

9 101-109

June Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by zero(s) 

if necessary. If there are no earnings for June, leave positions 

101-109 blank or zero-fill.

11 110-120 Leave blank or zero-fill.
UNITED STATES RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD - 15

Report of Gross Earnings (Monthly Earnings)

Record No. 2 - July through December 

Field 

Length

Record 

Position Data and Instructions

2 1-2 "29"

4 3-4 Year being reported (CCYY).

4 5-8 Four-digit employer BA number assigned by the Railroad 

Retirement Board.

9 9-17

Employee's social security account number.

NOTE: Report only those employees whose social security 

number ends with the digits “30”. 

20 18-22

First twenty (20) characters of the employee's surname. 

Spaces in such names as O Grady or De La Cross are 

acceptable.

15 23-24 First fifteen (15) characters of the employee's first name.

1 55 Employee’s middle initial.

9 56-64

January Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by 

zero(s) if necessary. If there are no earnings for January, 

leave positions 56-64 blank or zero-fill.

9 65-73

February Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by 

zero(s) if necessary. If there are no earnings for February, 

leave positions 65-73 blank or zero-fill.

9 74-82

March Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by 

zero(s) if necessary. If there are no earnings for March, leave 

positions 74-82 blank or zero-fill.

9 83-91

April Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by zero(s) 

if necessary. If there are no earnings for April, leave 

positions 83-91 blank or zero-fill.

9 92-100

May Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by zero(s) 

if necessary. If there are no earnings for May, leave positions 

92-100 blank or zero-fill.

9 101-109

June Amount - 9 positions ($$$$$$$¢¢), preceded by zero(s) 

if necessary. If there are no earnings for June, leave positions 

101-109 blank or zero-fill.

11 110-120 Leave blank or zero-fill.