Railroad Retirement Board's Office Raided By FBI

New York, NY (AHN) - Two days after revelations that a large number of retirees might be abusing Long Island Rail Road disability pay, the FBI raided and shuttered the office of the Railroad Retirement Board Tuesday. But a sign on its door said the board was closed for training.

The raid took place as more ex-L.I.R.R. staff came to file new disability claims. The FBI team hauled off nine file boxes of records and five computers.

The board has not rejected a single disability application and since 2000 paid over $250 million in disability claims among former L.I.R.R. workers even if they were apparently healthy.

In addition, the retired rail workers are not just enjoying disability pay, they also are allowed to play golf for free on New York-owned greens, prompting state park officials to review the system of granting Access Pass to sports facilities in state parks.

Following the raid, Jerome Kever, management member of the retirement board, said in a statement, "I understand the outrage that has ensued... The occupational disability program that exists today under the Railroad Retirement Act too easily permits medical conditions normally associated with aging to be adjudicated as occupationally disabling."

Steven Bartholow, general counsel of the retirement board, belied the insinuation by the New York Times reporting earlier this week that the disability pay of ex-L.I.R.R. retirees was generous. He said the former rail workers average disability benefit amounted to $26,400 yearly.

But records showed that in 2005 the mean disability pay had gone up to $36,000 per annum.