Category: News
RRB releases Medicare Part B premiums for 2019
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced that the standard monthly Part B premium will be $135.50 in 2019, a slight increase from $134.00 in 2018. However, some Medicare beneficiaries will pay slightly less than this amount. By law, Part B premiums for c [...]
FTA increases random drug testing rate for 2019
As mandated by its drug and alcohol regulation, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will increase the minimum rate of random drug testing from 25 percent to 50 percent of covered employees for employers subject to FTA’s drug and alcohol regulation, effective January 1, 2 [...]
Third quarter 2018 financial results have been released by Class I railroads
Net Earnings: Increased 34 percent to $1.4 billion Revenue: Increased 16 percent to $6.1 billion Operating Income: Increased 9 percent to $2.1 billion Operating Expenses: Increased 20 percent to $4.0 billion Operating Ratio: Increased 2.1 points to 64.5 percent Click here to [...]
UPDATED: The Passing of General President Emeritus Joseph Nigro
The General President, General Secretary Treasurer, General Executive Council, Staff of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers and the members and officers of SMART affiliates across the U.S. and Canada mourn the death of our esteem [...]Railroad Retirement benefits get COLA increase for 2019
Most railroad retirement annuities, like social security benefits, will increase in January 2019 due to a rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the third quarter of 2017 to the corresponding period of the current year. Cost-of-living increases are calculated in both the [...]
Social Security benefits to get 2.8 percent COLA increase for 2019
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 67 million Americans will increase 2.8 percent in 2019, announced the Social Security Administration (SSA). The 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more [...]
Funeral arrangements announced for members who died in Wyo. train crash
Two members, Jason Vincent Martinez, 40, and Benjamin ‘Benji’ George Brozovich, 39, died Thursday, Oct. 4 when the Union Pacific (UP) train they were operating hit the rear-end of a stopped train near Cheyenne, Wyo. SMART TD would like to express our condolences t [...]
How Medicare responds to hurricane-related disasters
When a natural disaster, extreme weather or other emergency occurs that affects providers and the Medicare beneficiaries that they serve, special emergency-related policies and procedures may be implemented. The process begins when a governor of an affected state requests ass [...]