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The privacy of our customers has always been important
to the Railroad Retirement Board. Our concern for your privacy
is no different in the electronic age. As a Federal Agency,
the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) requires us to protect the
information we collect from you.
The privacy policy outlined
below applies only to the data we collect from you over
the Internet.
This is our notice to you about why we collect your personal
information, how we use it, and who we share it with; what
your choices are for how we use your information; how we
get access to your information; and how we protect the information
we collect and maintain.
Why
we collect your personal information
- We collect personal data to administer the Railroad
Retirement Act and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act.
We do not use the information for any other internal secondary
purpose.
- You don’t have to give us personal information to visit
our website.
- If you do give us your personal information, we treat
it very carefully.
- We collect personal information about You (e.g., name,
e-mail address, Social Security number or other unique
identifier) only if you specifically and knowingly give
it to us. You should note, however, that when you send
us an email, you automatically furnish us with your e-mail
address even if you don’t furnish any additional personal
information.
How
we will use your personal information
- We do not sell the information we collect at this site,
or any information we collect.
- The personal information you give us at this site will
be used only in connection with the administration
of the Railroad Retirement Act and the Railroad Unemployment
Insurance Act. If you use our web site to apply for
benefits, the information that you give us on the
application will be used in the same way as if you
had furnished the information in person to our field
office representatives or had completed an application
and mailed it in to us. In both cases the uses of
the information is subject to the provisions of the
Privacy Act. The retention period will be the same.
If, however, you send us an email, for example as
to how we can improve our web site, we will use the
information you provide for that purpose only. The
identifying information you give us, such as your
email address and your name, will not be retained
in a Privacy Act system of records, where we can retrieve
your suggestion by your name or email address.
- For statistical purposes, we also collect non-personal
information about you. Sometimes we analyze this data
to determine customer interest in different parts of our
website. The information we share is in a format that
does not personally identify anyone.
Who
we will share your personal information with
We may disclose information you give us (e.g., to the Social
Security Administration, Department of Veteran’s Affairs)
if authorized or required by Federal Law, such as the Privacy
Act, Railroad Retirement Act, or the Railroad Unemployment
Insurance Act.
Your
choice about who we share your personal information with
If Federal laws (e.g., Privacy Act, Railroad Retirement
Act, or the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act does not
allow us to share information, we must get your written
authorization before we can furnish your information to
anyone else.
Your
access to the information we collect about you
You may have access to any of the information we collect
about you at this site. We’ll correct any errors you may
find. If you need to get or correct information about you,
see
How
to Obtain Records about Yourself.
How
we protect the security of the information we collect
- The Internet was originally designed as an open system
with no built in security; however, we are required to
protect the information we collect and maintain about
you and will not use the Internet to do business with
you unless we can do so in a secure manner. We will take
reasonable precautions to maintain the security, confidentiality
and integrity of the information we collect at this site.
- The RRB sometimes uses contractors to perform various
website and database functions. When we do, we make sure
that the agreement language with the contractor ensures
the security, confidentiality and integrity of any personal
information the contractor may have access to in the course
of contract performance.
Our
concern about sending personal information via email
- Electronic mail is not secure. Therefore, we suggest
that you don’t send personal information to us via email.
For our part we will send you only general information
via email.
- Electronic mail messages that meet the definition of
records in the Federal Records Act (44 U.S.C. 3101 et
seq.) are covered under the same disposition schedule
as all other Federal records. This means that emails you
send us will be preserved and maintained for varying periods
of time if those emails meet the definition of Federal
records. Electronic messages that are not records are
deleted when no longer needed.
Our
use of "cookies" and how it affects your visit
to our website
- What is a “cookie”? A cookie is a small piece of text
that is sent to your computer along with a web page when
you visit a website. Your computer will give the information
in the cookie only to the computer that sent it, and no
other website can request it. There are three types of
cookies—persistent, third party, and session. We never
use persistent or third party cookies, but sometimes we
use session cookies.
- We use session cookies only in some places where you
can transact business. We store the cookie on your computer
only during your visit. The session cookie keeps you from
losing information you’ve entered for a business transaction
with us if, during your visit, you leave our website and
return.
- Once you turn off your computer or stop using the Internet,
the cookie is erased.
If
you visit other websites
Our website contains session links to other federal agencies
and private organizations. These websites are not within
our control and may not follow the same privacy, security
or accessibility policies. Once you link to another site
you are subject to the policies of that site.
E-Mail
Notice
You have the option of using e-mail
to contact us. This is not secure e-mail! We ask that you
not send information by e-mail that you would not want a
third party to read. If you need to provide us with personal
information, such as your Social Security number or home
address, please call, write or visit your field office.
In reply, we will send you only general information by e-mail.
If we can identify you and have your telephone number or address
in our records, we will furnish any personal information by
telephone or letter. This helps to ensure we do not send your
personal information to someone asking for it without your
knowledge.
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