Booklet RB-1 (09-17)

Age and Service
Employee Annuity

United States of America
Railroad Retirement Board
Visit our website at www.rrb.gov

Form RB-1 (09-17)

INTRODUCTION
This booklet contains important information regarding your employee annuity under
the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA). In order to receive a railroad retirement employee
annuity, you must file an application and meet the requirements explained in this booklet.
It includes information concerning the earliest date your annuity can begin and reductions
that might apply to your annuity. We recommend that you read this booklet before you
file your application.
If you file for an annuity based on disability, you must also file a Form AA-1D, Application for
Determination of Employee’s Disability. Refer to the booklet RB-1D, Employee Disability Benefits,
for an explanation of the disability requirements.
Part VII of this booklet explains what will happen after you file your application and includes a
discussion of how and when you will receive your monthly payments.
Your spouse, or divorced spouse, must file a separate spouse annuity application to qualify for an
annuity on your earnings record. Booklet RB-30, Spouse/Divorced Spouse Annuity, explains the
spouse/divorced spouse entitlement requirements.
Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) representatives will be happy to discuss and explain the
information included in this booklet. To locate the nearest office, visit our Web site at www.
rrb.gov or call 877-772-5772. When contacting the RRB by telephone or mail, always provide
your RRB claim number, your name, and your daytime telephone number.
Your railroad retirement annuity is affected by certain events that may occur. The booklet RB-9,
Employee and Spouse Annuities - Events That Must Be Reported, provides a description of these
events and an explanation of how you should report them. Because these events can take place
any time after you receive your annuity payments, you should keep the RB-9 booklet for future
reference.

Important Notices
Be sure to read the important notices at the end of this booklet.

Other Booklets of Interest
IB-2
RB-3
G-179

Railroad Retirement and Survivor Benefits
Furnishing Evidence to Support Your Claim
Special Guaranty in Employee and Spouse Annuities

RRB booklets are available on the Railroad Retirement Board’s Web site at www.rrb.gov.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page

PART I - APPLYING FOR YOUR ANNUITY
Chapter 1
Requirements to Receive an Age and Service Annuity
Chapter 2
How Family Members Can Affect Your Annuity
Chapter 3
Credit for Railroad Work
Chapter 4
Credit for Military Service
Chapter 5
Current Connection
Chapter 6
Requirements for a Supplemental Annuity
PART II - WHEN YOUR ANNUITY CAN BEGIN
Chapter 7
File an Application
Chapter 8
Earliest Annuity Beginning Date Permitted By Law
Chapter 9
Stop Railroad Work
Chapter 10
The Effects of Unemployment or Sickness Benefits After Your Date Last Worked
Chapter 11
The Effects of a Dismissal Allowance, Pay For Time Lost, and Some Types
of Vacation Pay
Chapter 12
The Effects of a Separation Allowance After Your Date Last Worked

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PART III - BASIC FORMULA AND REDUCTIONS FOR EARLY RETIREMENT
Chapter 13
Basic Formula
Chapter 14
Full Retirement Age for Employees Who Have Less than 360 Months of Railroad Service
Chapter 15
Age Reductions for Employees Who Have Less than 360 Months of Railroad Service

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PART IV - DEDUCTIONS FOR EARNINGS
Chapter 16
Self-Employment and Other Nonrailroad Work
Chapter 17
Tier 1 Work Deductions
Chapter 18
Last Pre-Retirement Nonrailroad Employment
Chapter 19
Tier 2 and Supplemental Annuity Work Deductions

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14
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PART V - REDUCTIONS FOR OTHER BENEFITS
Chapter 20
Social Security Benefits
Chapter 21
Non-Covered Service Pensions
Chapter 22
Other Railroad Retirement Annuities
Chapter 23
Worker’s Compensation and Public Disability Benefits

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PART VI - REDUCTIONS FOR OTHER FEDERAL PROGRAMS
Chapter 24
Medicare Coverage and You
Chapter 25
Federal Income Tax Withholding

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PART VII - AFTER YOU APPLY FOR YOUR ANNUITY
Chapter 26
Notice of Decision About Your Age and Service Application
Chapter 27
How Payments Are Made
Chapter 28
Receiving Your Payments
Chapter 29
Change of Address
Chapter 30
Receiving a Tax Refund of Excess Social Security Tax
Chapter 31
Receiving a Railroad Separation Allowance Payment
Chapter 32
Records You Should Keep

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IMPORTANT NOTICES
Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability
Fraud and Abuse Hot Line
Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act Notice
Paperwork Reduction Act and Privacy Act Notices

PART I - APPLYING FOR YOUR ANNUITY
This section contains information that will help you
to complete your application correctly. Included are
the requirements you must meet to receive an annuity.
You may file your application up to three months
before your annuity beginning date.
Booklet RB-3, Furnishing Evidence to Support
Your Claim explains acceptable evidence for proofs
required to process your annuity application. Shorten
the processing time for your annuity application by
submitting proof of your date of birth and military
service to your local Railroad Retirement Board
(RRB) office now, even if you will not file your
application within three months. Whenever sending
documents to the RRB, always include your name,
social security number, and daytime telephone number
where you can be reached.
We recommend that you read this booklet
and Booklet RB-3 before you file your annuity
application.

Chapter 1 - Requirements to Receive an Age
and Service Annuity
You may qualify for a monthly age and service
employee annuity if you meet certain requirements.
This chapter describes types of age and service
annuities and the different conditions for each.
If you are filing for a disability annuity, you should
also refer to booklet RB-1D, Employee Disability
Benefits, which explains disability annuity
requirements. However, if your disability annuity
is denied, and you indicate that you would accept a
reduced age annuity, if eligible, read this chapter and
Part III for information about the reduced age and
service annuity.
A. Age Requirement - The RRB considers you to
have attained your age on the day before your
birthday. The age at which you can receive an age
and service annuity is based on your months of
railroad service.

Determining Earliest Retirement Age
If you have at least:
360 months of
railroad service,
120-359 months of
railroad service,
60-119 months of
railroad service,

Your annuity can begin the
first full month you are
age 60.
age 62.
age 62.

Note - The age requirements for a supplemental
annuity are in Chapter 6
B. Cessation of Railroad Service - Your age and
service annuity cannot begin until you stop all
railroad work for pay and relinquish rights to
railroad employment. Also note that, after the
annuity is awarded, payment cannot be made for
any month in which you return to work for a
railroad employer.
The RRB will release a Form G-88A.1 listing,
Request for Verification of Date Last Worked,
to your last railroad employer if your date last
worked is within 15 months of the date that you
file your employee annuity application. This will
notify your employer of your claimed date last
worked and relinquishment of rights.
C. Relinquishment of Rights - Before an age and
service annuity can be paid, you must relinquish
all seniority or other rights to return to work for
any railroad employer. While an age and service
annuity can begin to accrue as early as the day
after you stop working for the railroad, it cannot
be awarded until you relinquish rights to railroad
employment.
Example - A qualified age and service applicant,
who stops working on December 31, but does not
relinquish rights until March 15, is entitled to an
annuity from January 1. Although benefits accrue
from January 1, the actual payment cannot be made
before March 15, the day relinquishment of rights is
accomplished.
The relinquishment of rights only affects the
benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act. The
relinquishment of rights does not bind the railroad
should the employer choose to provide certain
employee benefits (i.e., health insurance, an
employee buyout) after you stop working.
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1. How Relinquishment of Rights is Accomplished
- To relinquish your rights to railroad employment, use your employee annuity application.
Indicate that you either no longer have seniority
or other rights to work for a railroad employer
or, if you are filing in advance of your annuity
beginning date, that you will give up those
rights as of the date indicated as your last day
of railroad employment.
Under advance filing procedure, you may
file for an age and service annuity up to three
months before your annuity beginning date.
If you are still working in railroad service
when you file, this means that the date that
you certify on your annuity application as the
date you will stop railroad service and relinquish rights is a date in the future. If your
plans change, you must promptly report any
change in your last day of railroad service to
the nearest RRB office. Otherwise your annuity
beginning date could be incorrect, resulting in
erroneous payments.
2. Relinquishment of Rights In Wrongful
Termination Cases - If you are prosecuting a
claim before the National Railroad Adjustment
Board for reinstatement and for time lost from
the effective date of a termination action that
you believe is wrongful, you must ask the RRB
to include the following statement over your
signature in the “Remarks” section of your
employee annuity application: “I do not at this
time possess any rights to return to the service
of an employer. This statement shall be without
prejudice to my claim that I was wrongfully
deprived of such rights on (date of termination).”
You must also request the RRB office to
prepare an “Assignment of Claim” statement
for your signature. This states that you will
refund any annuity payments you receive for
any period for which you may subsequently be
awarded pay for time lost.
3. Protest of Relinquishment of Rights - Once
effective, you cannot revoke the relinquishment
of rights, even if you offer to refund the amount
of the Railroad Retirement Act annuities that
were paid based on the relinquishment of
rights.
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D. Additional Requirements for Employee Annuities
Based on 60-119 Months of Railroad Service
with at Least 60 Months of Railroad Service
after 1995 - If you file for an employee disability
annuity that is based on 60-119 months of railroad
service with at least 60 months of railroad service
after 1995, a Tier 2 component is not payable
to you before the month in which you attain age
62. For age and service and disability annuities,
you must have a Social Security (SS) Act Insured
Status based on combined railroad earnings,
creditable military service earnings, and social
security earnings to qualify yourself and your
spouse for Tier 1 components.
An SS Act Insured Status is based on Quarters of
Coverage (QC). In general, the SS Act specifies an
amount for each calendar year that will qualify the
wage earner for a QC for that year. If you earn that
amount (or a multiple of that amount up to 4 QCs),
your earnings record will be credited with those
QCs.
You have an SS Act Insured Status if:
1. Employee Annuities Based on Age - You must
have a Fully Insured Status as defined in the
SS Act, but using combined railroad earnings,
creditable military service earnings, and social
security earnings. The SS Act QC requirement
for a Fully Insured Status for employees born
after 1928 is 40 QCs; or,
2. Employee Annuities Based on Disability - You
must have a Disability Freeze as defined in the
SS Act, but using combined railroad earnings,
creditable military service earnings, and social
security earnings. The SS Act requirements
are:
a. You must be rated totally and permanently
disabled;
b. You must have a Fully Insured Status.
(Generally, the QC requirement for a
Fully Insured Status is at least one QC
for each calendar year after the year you
attained age 21, through the year you
became disabled.); and,

c. You must have at least 20 QCs in a period of
40 consecutive calendar quarters (10 years)
ending with the quarter of the disability
onset date. This is also referred to as the
20-in-40 QC test.

Chapter 2 - How Family Members Can Affect
Your Annuity
Information concerning your marriage history is
requested on your employee annuity application to
determine the possible eligibility of any spouse or
divorced spouse on your earnings record. If you are
married when you apply for benefits, be sure to ask
the RRB representative whether your spouse is eligible
for an annuity. If you are, or your spouse is, too young
to qualify your spouse for benefits at that time, ask
when your spouse will become eligible. Your spouse
or divorced spouse is required to file a separate application to receive benefits on your earnings record. The
eligibility requirements are explained in booklet RB-30,
Spouse/Divorced Spouse Annuity.
You may also be eligible for an increase in your
annuity called the Special Guaranty computation, if
members of your family meet the requirements under
Social Security (SS) Act rules using your railroad
service as if it had been covered under the SS Act.
In most cases, your regular railroad retirement
annuity rate will exceed the amount that the Social
Security Administration (SSA) would have paid.
Therefore, your annuity application asks only for basic
information, such as the number of children you have
who would qualify under this provision. The term child
includes your unmarried natural child, or dependent
and unmarried adopted child, stepchild, or, under
certain conditions, your grandchild if both parents are
deceased or disabled.
Your child may be included in the Special Guaranty
computation if the child is:
1. under age 18;
2. age 18 or older with a permanent disability
that began before the child attained age 22 that
makes the child unable to perform any type of
regular employment; or

3. age 18-19 and in full-time attendance at an
elementary or secondary school.
The RRB office where you file your application will
test your annuity rate to determine if the Special
Guaranty could apply. If it could apply, our office
will contact you for further information. For more
information on the Special Guaranty computation,
read booklet G-179 Special Guaranty in Employee and
Spouse Annuities.

Chapter 3 - Credit for Railroad Work
As previously explained, you must stop all railroad
work in order to qualify for an employee annuity. A
railroad employer is any company or labor organization covered under the Railroad Retirement Act.
Covered railroad employers include railroads that
engage in interstate business, railroad associations, and
national railway labor organizations.
A. Actual Railroad Service - Your employer
reports your railroad service and earnings to the
RRB under your social security number. Shortly
after each year in which you have railroad
earnings, the RRB mails Form BA-6, Certificate
of Service Months and Compensation, to you.
This annual statement has a record of your creditable railroad service months and compensation
after 1936 and verified military service credits.
You can also call the RRB at 877-772-5772, to
request Form G-90c, Service and Compensation
History Statement, for your earnings record.
B. Deemed Railroad Service - For years after
1984, you may be entitled to additional railroad
service months if you did not actually work in
every month of the year. For additional service
months to be deemed, your compensation for the
year must exceed an amount equal to 1/12 of the
Tier 2 maximum multiplied by the number of
railroad service months you actually worked. The
excess amount is then divided by 1/12 of the Tier
2 maximum. The result, rounded up to a whole
number, is the number of deemed railroad service
months.
In order to qualify for these deemed railroad
service months, you must have had an

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employment relation for the months you did not
perform actual railroad service. This means that
you were:
1. on bona fide leave of absence from the
employer;
2. not retired or discharged, but by reason of
continuous disability, unable to return to
service;
3. out of service by reason of discharge later
determined to be wrongful; or,
4. an employee representative or employee of an
employee representative.
Deemed service months cannot be given for
months after the beginning date of your annuity
or after the date you relinquish rights to railroad
employment.

Chapter 4 - Credit for Military Service
A. Proof of Military Service - If you ever served in
active duty in the United States Armed Forces,
the RRB may be able to use that military service
to increase your annuity. You must first submit
a copy of your latest Department of Defense
Form 214, or any official record that shows your
dates of federal military service. Shorten the
processing time of your future benefit application
by submitting proof of your military service now.
When sending documents to the RRB, always
include your name, your social security number,
and a daytime telephone number where you can be
reached.
If your military service records were destroyed,
either in the 1973 fire at the National Records
Center in St. Louis, or in some other way, you
may request a new military service record from
your service branch with Form SF-180, Request
Pertaining to Military Records. This form
is available from the RRB or NARA at www.
archives.gov.
B. Basic Requirements Under the Railroad
Retirement Act - The Railroad Retirement
Act (RRA) allows credit for military service
that began in a war period or period of national
emergency and for involuntary (draft) military
service. This prevents career railroad employees
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from losing retirement credits while actively serving
in the national defense. To receive credit for military
service, you must always meet one of the general
railroad service requirements of Item 1 below and
must meet one of the specific requirements in Item
2, Item 3, or Item 4, which follow.
1. General Requirements under the RRA - The
RRA allows credit for military service as railroad
service months only if, prior to the beginning of
your military service, either in the same calendar
year or in the next preceding calendar year as the
enlistment, induction, or call from inactive duty,
you:
a. performed compensated service for an
employer under the RRA;
b. were entitled to Pay for Time Lost as an
employee for an employer under the RRA;
or,
c. were serving as an employee representative
as defined in the RRA.
2. Involuntary Military Service and Periods
of Creditable Voluntary Military Service Involuntary military service is always creditable under the RRA. In addition, voluntary
military service that began in the following
war periods or periods of national emergency
are creditable:
a. September 8, 1939, through June 14,
1948 (if you voluntarily entered military
service January 1, 1947, through June 14,
1948, you can only receive credit through
June 14, 1948).
b. June 15, 1948, through December 15,
1950, provided the additional requirements
described in Item 3 are met.
c. December 16, 1950, through September 14,
1978 (but any voluntary active duty extending
beyond September 14, 1978, is not creditable).
d. August 2, 1990, to a date not yet determined.
In addition to these war periods or periods of
national emergency, some active duty in the
federal military reserve may be creditable as
explained in Item 4.

3. Voluntary Military Service in the Period
June 15, 1948, through December 15, 1950
- Railroad workers who voluntarily served
in the Armed Forces between June 15,
1948, and December 15, 1950, can be given
railroad service credit for their military
service. In addition to the requirement
of railroad service prior to entering active
military service described in Item 1 above,
the RRA allows credit for voluntary active
military service in the period June 15, 1948,
through December 15, 1950, if you:
a. performed compensated service for
an employer under the RRA in the year
released from active military service or in
the next year; and,
b. did not work for a nonrailroad employer
after leaving military service and before
resuming railroad employment.
4. Creditable Military Reserve Duty - Members
of a reserve component of the uniformed
services who are called to active duty can
receive railroad service credits for any
such active duty or active duty for training,
provided that one of the requirements
described in Item 1 above was met as of the
date called up.
C. Basic Requirements Under the Social Security
Act Rules - Since most military service performed
after 1956 is creditable under the Social Security
(SS) Act, the wage credits are posted to your SS Act
wage record. The few cases in which military service
is not creditable under the SS Act involve military
service performed before 1957 that was either less
than 90 days or that had a type of discharge other than
honorable.
When military service is used as railroad service
months in your Tier 2 component, the SS Act
prohibits the use of the same military service as
wages.
D. Affect in Your Annuity Rate
1. Tier 1 Component
creditable under the
be used to increase
amounts used in the

- Military service
RRA or SS Act can
the yearly earnings
computation of your

Tier 1 component, subject to the yearly earnings
maximum. This is true even when the same
military service is used as railroad service
months in your Tier 2 component.
If you qualified for an annuity based on 60-119
months of railroad service with at least 60 months
of railroad service after 1995, military service
creditable under the RRA or SS Act can be used
as compensation Quarters of Coverage to meet
the total minimum 40 Quarters of Coverage
necessary for the SSA Insured Status requirement for a Tier 1 component that is explained in
Chapter 1(C). This is true even when the same
military service is used as railroad service months
in your Tier 2 component.
2. T i e r 2 C o m p o n e n t a n d S u p p l e m e n t a l
Annuity - Military service creditable under
the RRA can be used as railroad service
months in the computation of your Tier 2
component or supplemental annuity. However,
only one railroad service credit is allowed for
a calendar month. If you have actual railroad
service in the same month as the military
service, only one railroad service credit is
given for that month.
3. Vested Dual Benefit - If you have at least
120 months of railroad service before 1975
and acquired an SSA Insured Status before
1975 (see Chapter 1), you can receive an
additional annuity component called the
Vested Dual Benefit (VDB). Military service
performed before 1975, creditable under SS
Act rules, can be used as wages and wage
Quarters of Coverage before 1975, to help
meet the “wages only” requirements for a
VDB. However, when military service is
used as railroad service months in your Tier
2 component, the SS Act prohibits the use of
military service as wage Quarters of Coverage
for a VDB.

Chapter 5 - Current Connection
You must have a Current Connection with the
railroad industry in order to receive a supplemental
annuity or an occupational disability annuity.
Future survivor benefits can be paid by the RRB
only if you have a Current Connection. The RRB
will determine whether or not you have a Current
Connection when your annuity application is
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A. R e q u i r e m e n t s f o r a R e g u l a r C u r r e n t
Connection - You have a regular Current
Connection with the railroad industry if you meet
either of the following conditions:
1. you worked for a railroad in at least 12 of the
30 consecutive months before the month in
which your annuity begins or
2. you worked in the railroad industry in at
least 12 months in any other period of 30
consecutive months before the month your
annuity begins without any intervening
regular employment.
B. Work that will not Break a Current Connection The following types of work do not break a Current
Connection:
1. Work for the following government agencies:
a. Alaska Railroad (as long as it is owned by
the State of Alaska);
b. U.S. Department of Transportation;
c. Surface Transportation Board (or its
predecessor the Interstate Commerce
Commission);
d. National Mediation Board;
e. National Transportation Safety Board; or,
f.

Railroad Retirement Board.

2. Service for a railroad whose principal
operation is in Canada and service by a
Canadian citizen in Canada for a railroad
whose principal operation is in the United
States.
3. Self-employment as defined under the
Railroad Retirement Act (see Chapter 16).
4. Nonrailroad work after your annuity beginning
date.

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C. Deemed Current Connection - If you do
not have a regular Current Connection, you
may have a Deemed Current Connection for a
supplemental annuity or future benefits payable
to your survivors. Your Current Connection is
deemed to be maintained, even if you have regular
nonrailroad employment before your annuity
begins, if you:
1. have at least 25 years of railroad service; and,
2. either stopped working in the railroad industry
“involuntarily and without fault” for a
non-medical reason on, or after, October 1,
1975, or, were on furlough or leave of absence
or were absent because of injury on or after
October 1, 1975, and were not called back to
work; and,
3. did not decline an offer to return to railroad
employment in the same “class or craft” as your
most recent railroad service (regardless of the
number of miles you would have had to move to
accept such job).
NOTE: An employee cannot be on furlough,
leave of absence, or absent because of injury
status after relinquishment of rights to railroad
service.
If you meet all the above requirements, your
Current Connection would not be broken, even
if you work in regular employment after your
30-month period and before retirement or death.
D. Proof of Deemed Current Connection - RRB
records will confirm if you have 25 years of
service.
You must supply the proof that you did not
voluntarily end your railroad employment. The
best evidence is the letter from your employer that
describes the circumstances of your separation.
Other acceptable proofs are personnel, payroll,
and health insurance records that show your
employment status. If none of these documents
exist when your application is filed, it will be
necessary for you to secure an affidavit from a
railroad or union official or from two of your
former co-workers who can be identified by the
RRB as railroad employees.

Chapter 6 - Requirements for a Supplemental
Annuity
Some retired railroad employees may be eligible to
receive a supplemental annuity from the RRB, in
addition to their regular age and service or disability
annuity.
A. Requirements for a Supplemental Annuity - To
be eligible for a supplemental annuity, you must
meet all of the following requirements.
1. Age and Railroad Service - You must be at
least age 65 with at least 300 months (25
years) of creditable railroad service, or
at least age 60 with 360 months (30 years)
of creditable railroad service. The age
requirement for a supplemental annuity is not
affected by the definition of Full Retirement
Age (FRA) explained in Chapter 14;
2. Qualified for Annuity - You must be eligible,
and have filed, for an age and service
or disability annuity. The supplemental
annuity can never begin before an
age and service or disability annuity;
3. Railroad Service Before October 1, 1981 You must have at least one month of creditable
railroad service before October 1, 1981; and,
4. Current Connection - You must have
a current connection with the railroad
industry, as explained in Chapter 5.
B. Reduction for Employer Pension - The
amount of your supplemental annuity is
reduced if you receive either of the following:
1. A monthly pension from your railroad
employer that is based in whole or in
part on the employer’s contributions.
2. A lump-sum distribution from an employer
pension in lieu of a monthly benefit.
A lump-sum distribution is considered to
be paid even if you roll-over the funds to
another account. If a lump-sum distribution is
paid in installments, the installment payments
are considered part of the single lump-sum

distribution. Your own contributions to your pension
account do not affect your supplemental annuity.
Also, there is no reduction to the supplemental
annuity for a pension paid by a railroad labor union.
You are requested on your application, to enter the
name(s) of the railroad employer(s) with which
you still hold pension rights. Select the category
that most accurately applies to the job position
that qualified you for the employer pension.
The RRB may forward Form G-88p, Employer’s
Supplemental Pension Report, to your railroad
employer if additional information about your
employer pension is needed.
PART II - WHEN YOUR ANNUITY CAN BEGIN
Refer to booklet RB-1D, Employer Disability
Benefits, if you are applying for a disability annuity.

Chapter 7 - File an Application
You must file an application for an employee annuity to
receive railroad retirement benefits based on your age
and service. When you file an application for an age and
service annuity, you may select the day you want your
annuity to begin. You have two choices: the earliest date
permitted by law, or a later date designated by you.

Chapter 8 - Earliest Annuity Beginning Date
Permitted By Law
A. General - Most applicants select the earliest date
permitted by law. This means the RRB will set
your annuity beginning date as the very first day
it could legally begin. If you choose to select a
beginning date yourself, your annuity will begin
on that date. However, the date you choose cannot
be before the earliest date permitted by law.
The earliest age and service annuity beginning
date permitted by law is the latest of the following:
1. The day after the actual day you last worked in
the railroad industry.

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2. The day after the last day of a period of
Dismissal Allowance, Pay for Time Lost, or
some types of Vacation Pay from the railroad
industry.
3. The first day of the first full month you meet
the age requirement, as described in Chapter 1.
4. The first day of the month in which your
application is filed if your annuity is reduced
for early retirement, as described in Chapter
15.
5. The first day of the sixth month before the
month in which you file your annuity application if your annuity is not reduced for early
retirement.
B. Advance Filing - If Items 1-3 above apply, you
can file your age and service application up to
three months before the earliest annuity beginning
date permitted by law. This will shorten the processing time of your annuity application.
C. Delayed Filing - Note that when you delay
filing for benefits, when Items 4-5 above apply,
you may lose benefits for some or all of the
period before the month in which you file.

Chapter 9 - Stop Railroad Work
Your age and service annuity cannot begin until you
stop all railroad work for pay. Also note that, after
the annuity is awarded, payment cannot be made for
any month in which you return to work for a railroad
employer.
Under advance filing procedure, you may file for
an age and service annuity up to three months
before your annuity beginning date. If you are still
working in railroad service when you file, this
means that the date that you certify on your annuity
application as the date you will stop railroad service
and relinquish rights is a date in the future. If your
plans change, you must promptly report any change
in your last day of railroad service to the nearest
RRB office. Otherwise, your annuity beginning date
could be incorrect, resulting in erroneous payments.

8

The RRB will release a Form G-88A.1 listing, Request
for Verification of Date Last Worked, to your last
railroad employer if your date last worked is within 15
months of the date that you file your employee annuity
application. This will notify your employer of your
claimed date last worked and relinquishment of rights.

Chapter 10 - The Effects of Unemployment or
Sickness Benefits After Your Date Last Worked
A. Benefits Under the Railroad Unemployment
Insurance Act - Provided you meet the eligibility
requirements, you may receive benefits under the
Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA)
after your actual date last worked. These benefits
have no effect on your annuity beginning date.
Your annuity can begin as early as the day after
your actual date last worked. However, any RUIA
benefits paid to you after your annuity beginning
date will be recovered from your annuity accrual.
B. Sick Pay Under Certain Wage Continuation
Plans - Any railroad sick pay, for months after
your actual date last worked, that you received
under certain wage continuation plans, other
than being carried on the payroll at all or part of
your regular pay, can be credited to your Tier 1
component for up to six months after your actual
date last worked. But, this type of sick pay is not
creditable as railroad service months to your Tier
2 component. The sick pay agreement must be
established through a company policy or labor
agreement.
Check your pay receipt for the period of sickness
to determine if this provision applies to you. If
the payment was subject to Tier 1, and not Tier 2
tax, the payment is sick pay and has no effect on
your annuity beginning date. Your annuity can
begin as early as the day after your actual date last
worked. Examples of this type of payment are the
Trustmark or Provident sick pay plans provided by
some railroads.

Chapter 11 - The Effects of a Dismissal
Allowance, Pay For Time Lost, and Some
Types of Vacation Pay
This section concerns payments that you may receive
from your employer after the actual date you last
performed service for the railroad, but while you were
still carried on their payroll. These payments can have
an effect on your annuity beginning date.
A. Dismissal Allowance - Under the Railroad
Retirement Act, a Dismissal Allowance consists
of monthly compensation payments for a specific
period made to an employee who retains an
employment relation. This is also often called
Wage Continuation or Guaranty Payments. The
following, though not exhaustive, is evidence of an
employment relation:
1. For these payments, your resignation and
relinquishment of rights are not effective until
the end of the period for which the payments
are made.
2. You may be recalled during the period of
the allowance. This can apply even if the
agreement between you and the railroad is
silent on the question of recall.
3. You remain covered under various employee
plans.
4. You continue to receive employee benefits.
B. Pay For Time Lost - Pay For Time Lost includes:

1. Personal Injury Settlements which allocate a
portion of the damage as lost compensation for
a specific period following the injury and

2. Short Term Disability for a specific period
for which you are carried on the payroll and
receive all or part of your regular pay while
absent from work due to sickness.
C. Vacation Pay - Some types of Vacation Pay affect
your annuity if you are carried on the payroll after
your actual date last worked and retain an employment relation.

When you file your annuity application, the payments
described in Sections A-C above should be entered
as Pay for Time Lost to prevent an incorrect annuity
beginning date from being established. Your annuity
cannot begin until the day after the last day for which
the Dismissal Allowance, Pay for Time Lost, or
Vacation Pay is paid.
When possible, it is sometimes to your advantage
to accept the payments in a lump sum. You will not
receive as many railroad service months, but this
allows your annuity to begin at an earlier date. If
you need help in making this decision, the RRB will
provide you with the necessary annuity estimates.
If you accept a Dismissal Allowance, Pay for Time
Lost, or Vacation Pay, you cannot receive Railroad
Unemployment Insurance Act benefits for the period of
time for which you receive these benefits. This is true
regardless of whether you leave railroad employment
voluntarily or involuntarily.
If you receive an injury settlement or Dismissal
Allowance, bring any documentation (i.e., a copy
of your settlement) with you when you file your
employee annuity application. If your case is still
pending at that time, advise the RRB office that you
intend to claim a period of Pay for Time Lost after
your actual date last worked. They will indicate the
type of payment in “Remarks” on your application
so the RRB can correctly determine your annuity
beginning date.

Chapter 12 - The Effects of a Separation
Allowance After Your Date Last Worked
This section concerns payments that you may receive
from your employer after the actual date you last
performed service for the railroad, but after you
resigned and relinquished your rights to railroad
employment. These payments do not have an effect on
your annuity beginning date.
Under the Railroad Retirement Act, a Separation
Allowance is compensation paid, from railroad
operating funds, to an employee who agrees to relinquish job rights to obtain the payment. The payment
can be made in a lump sum or in periodic installment
payments.

9

The entire amount of the Separation Allowance is
creditable to your Tier 1 component, as of the date
you relinquish your rights, up to the annual Tier 1
maximum for that year. However, only the amount
up to the Tier 2 monthly maximum times the number
of creditable railroad service months for the year
in which you relinquish your rights is creditable to
your Tier 2 component. No railroad service months
are credited to any month after the month in which
you relinquish your rights, even if the Separation
Allowance is paid in monthly installments.
However, you may be entitled to a Separation
Allowance Lump-Sum Payment as explained in
Chapter 31 of this booklet. This amount is a refund of
any Tier 2 taxes withheld from Separation Allowance
payments when they do not result in railroad service
months or Tier 2 credit.
In cases where an employee, with at least 25 years
of railroad service, has no option to remain in the
service of the railroad employer, the acceptance
of a Separation Allowance does not mean that the
termination is voluntary. The employee can still
qualify for a Deemed Current Connection, as
explained in Chapter 5.
However, if you are offered a job of equal class and
craft, regardless of the distance you would have to
travel, and you chose a Separation Allowance instead
of keeping your seniority rights to railroad employment, you would be considered to have voluntarily
terminated railroad employment and would not be
protected by the Deemed Current Connection.
If you accept a Separation Allowance, you cannot
receive RUIA benefits for roughly the period of
time (called the disqualification period) it would
have taken to earn the amount of the Separation
Allowance, whether the Separation Allowance is paid
in a lump sum or installments.
If you have not obtained new employment by the end
of the disqualification period and are still actively
seeking work, you may be eligible for unemployment
benefits at that time. You must meet all the usual
eligibility requirements, including the availability
for work requirement. An employee can establish
availability for work by demonstrating a willingness
to work and making significant efforts to obtain
work. In judging your willingness to work, the RRB
considers, among other factors, the reason you
10

accepted the Separation Allowance and the extent of
your work-seeking efforts during the disqualification
period. Therefore, if you are offered a job of equal
class and craft and you chose a Separation Allowance
instead of keeping your seniority rights to railroad
employment, you would be considered to have
voluntarily terminated railroad employment and may
not qualify for Railroad Unemployment Insurance
Act (RUIA) benefits.
Example - If your salary was $3,000 a month without
overtime pay, and your Separation Allowance was
$12,000, you would be disqualified from receiving
RUIA benefits for approximately four months. You
could receive RUIA benefits for the months after the
end of the four-month disqualification period only if
you meet the availability for work requirement.
Note that lump-sum payments from a pension trust
fund are not considered to be Separation Allowances
under the RRA, even if the railroad or the RUIA
refers to them as Separation Allowances. These
payments are not subject to Tier 1 or Tier 2 taxes and
do not increase the Tier 1 component. However, they
can create a disqualification period for benefits under
the RUIA and can cause a reduction to supplemental
annuity benefits, as explained in Chapter 6.
PART III - BASIC FORMULA AND REDUCTIONS
FOR EARLY RETIREMENT

Chapter 13 - Basic Formula
Regular railroad retirement annuities are calculated
under the following two-tier formula:
A. Tier 1 component - The first tier is based on
railroad retirement credits and any social security
credits an employee has acquired. If you have at
least 120 months of railroad service, or 60-119
months of railroad service with at least 60
months of railroad service after 1995, the amount
of the first tier is calculated using social security
formulas and age requirements. Exception: If
you have at least 360 months of railroad service
or are disabled and have at least 120 months of
railroad service, the amount of the first tier is
calculated using social security formulas and
railroad retirement age and service requirements.

B. Tier 2 component - The second tier is based
on railroad retirement credits only, and may be
compared to the retirement benefits sometimes
paid to workers in other industries in addition to
social security benefits.

Chapter 14 - Full Retirement Age for
Employees Who Have Less than 360 Months of
Railroad Service
The term Full Retirement Age (FRA) means the age
at which an employee with less than 360 months of
railroad service can receive a full annuity (not reduced
for early retirement).
If you have less than 360 months of railroad service,
this applies to you. FRA for your Tier 1 age reduction
is age 65 if you were born before January 2, 1938.
The FRA for persons born after January 1, 1938, will
gradually increase over a 20-year period to age 67, as
illustrated in the following chart.

1. You Have 60-119 Months of Railroad Service
with at Least 60 Months of Railroad Service
After 1995 - Your Tier 1 is reduced by 1/180
for the first 36 months you are under FRA and
by 1/240 for each additional month you are
under FRA on your RRA annuity beginning
date, or if earlier, your social security benefit
date of entitlement; or,

2. You Have 120-359 Months of Railroad Service
- Your Tier 1 is reduced by 1/180 for the first
36 months you are under FRA and by 1/240
for each additional month you are under FRA
on your annuity beginning date.
B. Tier 2 Component Age Reduction - Your
employee annuity Tier 2 component age reduction
depends on whether or not you have railroad
service before August 12, 1983.

1. You Began Your Railroad Service Before
August 12, 1983 - Your Tier 2 age reduction
is 1/180 for each month you are under age 65
on your annuity beginning date; or

Before 1-2-1938

then your Full
Retirement Age is:
65

1-2-1938 thru 1-1-1939

65 and 2 months

2. You Began Your Railroad Service After

1-2-1939 thru 1-1-1940

65 and 4 months

1-2-1940 thru 1-1-1941

65 and 6 months

1-2-1941 thru 1-1-1942

65 and 8 months

1-2-1942 thru 1-1-1943

65 and 10 months

August 11, 1983 - Your Tier 2 will be reduced
by 1/180 for each of the first 36 months you
are under FRA and 1/240 for each additional
month you are under FRA on your annuity
beginning date.

1-2-1943 thru 1-1-1955

66

1-2-1955 thru 1-1-1956

66 and 2 months

1-2-1956 thru 1-1-1957

66 and 4 months

1-2-1957 thru 1-1-1958

66 and 6 months

1-2-1958 thru 1-1-1959

66 and 8 months

1-2-1959 thru 1-1-1960

66 and 10 months

1-2-1960 and later

67

If you were born:

(Full Retirement Age also affects Tier 1 component
work deductions due to earnings as described in
Chapter 17, regardless of your total years of railroad
service.)

Chapter 15 - Age Reductions for Employees
Who Have Less than 360 Months of Railroad
Service

NOTE: If you receive a disability annuity based
on 60-119 months of railroad service with at least
60 months of railroad service after 1995, your
Tier 2 component is not payable until the first full
month you are age 62. Then it will be reduced in the
same manner as a Tier 2 component for an age and
service employee.
PART IV - DEDUCTIONS FOR EARNINGS
Your annuity is not payable for any month in which
you are in railroad service. In addition, nonrailroad
earnings after your annuity beginning date may affect
your annuity computation.
If you are filing for a disability annuity, refer to the
earnings restrictions in booklet RB-1D, Employee
Disability Benefits.

A. Tier 1 Component Age Reduction - Your
employee annuity Tier 1 component age reduction
depends on your total years of railroad service.
11

Otherwise, the age and service annuity Tier 1 and Tier
2 deductions for earnings are explained below.

Chapter 16 - Self-Employment and Other
Nonrailroad Work
Earnings from nonrailroad employment, including
s e l f-employment, ma y affe ct your ann u i t y
computation. Nonrailroad work is any job that is
not in the railroad industry. This includes work for
a Canadian railroad that is not covered under the
Railroad Retirement Act and work as an elected or
appointed public official.
We ask for information regarding your nonrailroad
work, any government jobs you may have had, and
any self-employment to determine whether or not you
have a current connection with the railroad industry (as
explained in Chapter 5). Earnings after your annuity
beginning date from any nonrailroad employment or
self-employment may also cause work deductions.
If you are claiming self-employment, the RRB
determines whether or not you are performing
“substantial services” as an independent contractor. The
payment of self-employment taxes may be evidence of
an independent contractor status, but is not conclusive.
If you are working for an incorporated business that
you own, the RRB does not consider that work selfemployment. If you are self-employed as a consultant,
the RRB considers how your self-employment
compares to the work you did for your former railroad
or nonrailroad employer before you applied for your
annuity. You should complete and return Form AA-4,
Self-Employment and Substantial Service Questionnaire,
to provide the RRB with the necessary information to
make that determination.
For more information about self-employment, see
Form G-177L, General Information about Continuing
in or Returning to Nonrailroad Employment after
Retirement under the Railroad Retirement Act.

Chapter 17 - Tier 1 Work Deductions
Tier 1, Vested Dual Benefit, or Special Guaranty
Computation work deductions do not apply for any
months you are Full Retirement Age (FRA) (see Chapter
14) or older. If you are FRA, or older, on your annuity
beginning date, you may skip to Chapter 18. If you are
under FRA, earnings from any nonrailroad employment

12

(including self-employment) over the Annual Earnings
Exempt Amount cause work deductions to your Tier 1, any
Vested Dual Benefit payable, and to any Special Guaranty
computation.
The term Annual Earnings Exempt Amount means the
amount of money you can earn in nonrailroad employment in a year without losing part of your annuity
or the annuities of others entitled on your earnings
record. There are separate Annual Earnings Exempt
Amounts for persons under FRA, and for the year in
which the person attains FRA, as explained in the
following chart.
When you have earnings over the Annual Earnings
Exempt Amount for your age group, the excess is
charged against your annuity and the annuities of all
others entitled on your earnings record. However, if
a divorced spouse is entitled on your earnings record,
effective from the second anniversary of the divorce,
your earnings have no effect on the divorced spouse
annuity.
DETERMINING AMOUNT OF
YOUR WORK DEDUCTION
For a year in
which you:

You may lose up to $1 in Tier 1
components for every:

The
reduction:

attain FRA,

$3.00 of earnings over the
Annual Earnings Exempt
Amount for your age group.
However, your earnings are
only counted for months
before the month in which
you attain FRA.

is removed
effective the
month in
which you
attain FRA.

are under FRA
for the entire
year,

$2.00 of earnings over the
Annual Earnings Exempt
Amount for your age group.

applies for
the full year.

work outside
the U.S. for 45
or more hours
per month,

$2.00 of earnings. There is
no Annual Earnings Exempt
Amount for work outside
the U.S. However, your
earnings are only counted
for months before the month
in which you attain FRA.

is removed
effective the
month in
which you
attain FRA.

Refer to Form G-77a, How Work Affects Your Railroad
Retirement Benefits, for the Annual Earnings Exempt Amount
to use when completing the earnings items on your annuity
application.
A. Definition of Earnings for Tier 1, Vested Dual Benefit,
or Special Guaranty Computation - In general, earnings
restrictions apply to gross earnings from employment
and net earnings from self-employment.

Gross earnings are all salaries (including
amounts deferred to a 401(k) pension account),
commissions, bonuses, retroactive wage
increases, or any allowances for room or board
earned in the calendar year. If these earnings
are from an employer covered under the Social
Security Act, the amount of the gross earnings is
the amount reported for social security tax under
the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA).
Net earnings from self-employment equals the
amount of gross income minus expenses that
were reported for social security tax under the
Self-Employment Contributions Act (SECA).
Add your earnings from employment and
self-employment together to determine the total
earnings for the calendar year for the purpose of
Tier 1, Vested Dual Benefit, or Special Guaranty
Computation work deductions.
Do not include as earnings any money that you
received for any reason other than work, such as
interest from savings, income from investments,
gifts, inheritances, pensions or other retirement
benefits.

2. Special Rule does not Apply - If you earn more
than the Monthly Earnings Exempt Amount in
one or more months after your annuity begins,
deductions are assessed to those months up
to the amount required based on your total
earnings for the year. Also, after the first year
in which you have a Non-Work Month, this
monthly test does not apply. If your earnings
are high enough, Tier 1, Vested Dual Benefit
or Special Guaranty Computation work
deductions will be assessed to your annuity for
the entire year, even if you only work part of
the year.
C. E x c e p t i o n f o r S o c i a l S e c u r i t y B e n e f i t
Entitlement - No earnings deductions are made
by the RRB to your Tier 1 component if you
are receiving social security benefits. Earnings
deductions may be made by the Social Security
Administration in your social security benefit.
If your annuity includes a Vested Dual Benefit,
however, the RRB will assess earnings deductions
to that part of your annuity.

B. Exception for First Year of Entitlement - In the
year your annuity begins, deductions for your
own earnings are based on your earnings for the
entire year, not just the earnings after you retire.
However, a special rule may be used to apply
work deductions in the first year you are entitled
to an annuity and have a Non-Work Month.

D. Exception for Those Who do not have a Work
Deduction Insured Status - Ask your local RRB
office if this exception applies to you. Most
employees currently retiring are not eligible
for this exception because they do have a Work
Deduction Insured Status.

A Non-Work Month is a month in which you earn
less than the Monthly Earnings Exempt Amount
for your age (the Annual Earnings Exempt Amount
for your age divided by 12) or, if self-employed,
render no substantial services. (The RRB uses
Form AA-4, Self-Employment and Substantial
Service Questionnaire, to determine months in
which you rendered no substantial services.)

However, there are a few employees who may not
have accumulated the number of wage Quarters of
Coverage, or compensation Quarters of Coverage
after 1974, to have a Work Deduction Insured
Status. For example, employees working for
Canadian railroads have not accumulated Quarters
of Coverage since 1983.

1. Special Rule Applies - In the year the special
rule is applied, deductions for your own
earnings are not applied to any Non-Work
Month. If you have high earnings before your
annuity begins but do not earn more than the
Monthly Earnings Exempt Amount in any month
after your annuity begins, Tier 1, Vested Dual
Benefit or Special Guaranty Computation work
deductions for your own earnings will not be
required.

This exception only affects the Tier 1 and Vested
Dual Benefit work deductions. A Work Deduction
Insured Status is not required for work deductions
under the Special Guaranty Computation.

13

Chapter 18 - Last Pre-Retirement Nonrailroad
Employment

6. work as a member (owner) of a Limited
Liability Corporation; or,

A. D e f i n i t i o n - Y o u r L a s t P r e - R e t i r e m e n t
Nonrailroad Employer (LPE) is defined as any
nonrailroad individual, company, or institution
for whom you are working on the date your
employee annuity begins or for whom you
stopped working in order to receive an annuity. A
few exceptions for types of nonrailroad work are
listed in Section B.

7. self-employment as defined under the Railroad
Retirement Act.

The nonrailroad employer is always your LPE if
you are working in nonrailroad employment on
the date your employee annuity begins or, if you
have stopped working, you still hold rights to
return to service of the nonrailroad employer on
the date your employee annuity begins.
The nonrailroad employer is presumed to be
your LPE if you stopped working within the
six months preceding your annuity beginning
date. When you were working for two or more
persons, companies, or institutions within the six
months preceding your annuity beginning date,
all such employers are presumed to be your LPE.
B. Work That is not Considered Last PreRetirement Nonrailroad Employment Nonrailroad employment after the date your
annuity begins is not LPE unless you worked
for that employer before the date your annuity
begins. Also, some types of nonrailroad work
are not considered LPE, no matter when they are
done.
The following types of work are not LPE:

Even though earnings from employment described
above are not from LPE, they can cause Tier 1
work deductions, as explained in Chapter 17.

Chapter 19 - Tier 2 and Supplemental Annuity
Work Deductions
Any earnings from your Last Pre-Retirement
Nonrailroad Employer (LPE) in or after the month
your annuity begins will reduce your Tier 2 component,
your spouse’s Tier 2 component, and any supplemental annuity. Your LPE is explained in Chapter 18.
The reduction is $1 for each $2 earned (subject to a
maximum reduction of 50 percent of the Tier 2 and supplemental annuity).
The reduction to Tier 2 and the supplemental
annuity occurs at any age, even after you attain Full
Retirement Age. There is no Annual Earnings Exempt
Amount, or Monthly Earnings Exempt Amount for the
first year of entitlement, for LPE work deductions.
Work deductions for LPE apply no matter how much
money you earn in LPE.
Earnings from self-employment or other nonrailroad
employment are not added to your LPE earnings
when computing Tier 2 or supplemental annuity work
deductions.
PART V - REDUCTIONS FOR OTHER
BENEFITS

1. military service;
2. mail handling under contract for the U.S.
Post Office;
3. jury duty;
4. employment for which you are reimbursed
only for your expenses;
5. certain seasonal employment where you do
not have rights to return to the employment
(such as working in a department store during
the Christmas season);
14

Chapter 20 - Social Security Benefits
If you are entitled to Social Security (SS) benefits
based on any wage record, your Tier 1 component
will be offset for those SS benefits (before any withholding under the SS Act for your earnings over the
Annual Earnings Exempt Amount). This is why your
SS benefits may be certified to the RRB for payment.
If you have already filed for your SS benefits, it is
important to include the SS benefit information on
your annuity application. This will help to prevent an
overpayment of your annuity.

A. Annuity Based on at Least 120 Months of
Railroad Service - Your railroad retirement application may be used to protect your filing date
for SS benefits if you have not yet filed at the
Social Security Administration (SSA) and will be
entitled to the SS benefits within three months.
This means the date you file your railroad retirement application can be used as the date you file
for SS benefits. If you want to use your railroad
retirement application to protect your filing date,
the RRB representative will prepare Form RR-8,
Notice of Protection of Filing Date for Social
Security Benefits, and send a copy to your local
SSA office. The SSA office will contact you to
secure an application for SS benefits.
Your railroad retirement application may protect
your filing date, but it is not an application for SS
benefits. You must file a separate application for
those benefits at SSA.
In many cases, filing for SS benefits will not affect
your total benefit rate, because of the deduction in
your Tier 1 component. It is usually not to your
advantage to apply for benefits at both agencies.
It is a good idea to discuss this matter with an
RRB representative before deciding to file for SS
benefits. Contact your local RRB office for information about your situation before filing at SSA.
B. Annuity Based on 60-119 Months of Railroad
Service With at Least 60 Months of Railroad
Service After 1995 - Your railroad retirement
application is also deemed to be an application
for any SS benefits that you may be entitled to on
your own earnings record or the earnings record of
your spouse.

Chapter 21 - Non-Covered Service Pensions
A Non-Covered Service Pension (NCSP) is any
payment based on earnings for services performed
after 1956 that are not covered as employment
under the Social Security (SS) Act or the Railroad
Retirement Act (RRA). This payment may either be a
monthly check or a lump-sum payment. This information is important because it may reduce the amount of
your Tier 1 component.

A. Exceptions for Non-Covered Service Pension
Reduction - You are not subject to the non-covered
service pension reduction if your date of birth
is before January 2, 1924, or if you have at least
30 Years of Coverage. Approximately 1 Year of
Coverage is credited for each year in which you
have wages, compensation, or self-employment
earnings equal to or more than the following: 25
percent of the SSA maximum creditable earnings
for years before 1979, 25 percent of the Tier 2
maximum creditable earnings for years 19791990, and 15 percent of the Tier 2 maximum creditable earnings for years after 1990. Ask your RRB
representative if this exception applies to you.
Also note that the following monthly benefits are
not considered to be non-covered service pensions:
1. A private pension from your railroad
employer.
2. Payment from the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
3. Pensions based on military service active duty.
4. Pensions based on the earnings of another
person.
B. When Non-Covered Service Pension Reduction
May Apply - If none of the exceptions above apply,
your date of birth is January 2, 1924, or later, and
you are receiving or expect to receive a pension or
annuity (or a lump-sum payment in excess of your
own contributions to the pension plan) that is based
on any work performed after 1956 not covered by
the SS Act or the RRA, the RRB will use Form
G-209, Employee Non-Covered Service Pension
Questionnaire, to obtain the information necessary
to compute any offset for your non-covered service
pension.

Chapter 22 - Other Railroad Retirement
Annuities
If you are entitled to more than one railroad retirement
annuity, your employee annuity is not reduced for the
other railroad retirement annuity. But your employee
annuity can have an effect on the other railroad retirement annuity.
15

A. Spouse Annuity - If you are entitled to both a
Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) employee annuity
based on your own earnings record and an RRA
spouse annuity based on a different earnings record,
the reduction to your RRA spouse annuity depends
on whether or not there is railroad service before
January 1, 1975, on either earnings record:
1. If either earnings record has railroad service
before January 1, 1975, your RRA spouse
annuity Tier 1 is reduced by your RRA
employee annuity Tier 1. The reduction may be
restored to your RRA spouse annuity Tier 2.
2. If neither earnings record has railroad service
before January 1, 1975, your RRA spouse
annuity Tier 1 and Tier 2 is reduced by your
own RRA employee annuity Tier 1 and Tier
2. The reduction is not restored to your RRA
spouse annuity Tier 2.
B. Widow(er) Annuity - If you are entitled to both an
RRA employee annuity based on your own earnings
record and an RRA widow(er) annuity based on
a different earnings record, the reduction to your
RRA widow(er) annuity depends on railroad service
before January 1, 1975.
1. If either earnings record has at least 120 months
of railroad service before January 1, 1975, your
RRA widow(er) annuity Tier 1 is reduced by
your own RRA employee annuity Tier 1. If you
are a widow, the reduction may be partially
restored to your RRA widow annuity Tier 2. If
you are a widower, you may be eligible for the
restored amount if you were dependent on your
deceased spouse for 1/2 of your support.
2. If either earnings record has some railroad
service before January 1, 1975, but neither
earnings record has 120 months of railroad
service before January 1, 1975, your RRA
widow(er) annuity Tier 1 is reduced by your
own RRA employee annuity Tier 1. The
reduction is not restored to your widow(er)
annuity Tier 2.
3. If neither earnings record has any railroad
service before January 1, 1975, your RRA
widow(er) annuity Tier 1 and Tier 2 is reduced
by your RRA employee annuity Tier 1 and Tier
2. The reduction is not restored to your RRA
widow(er) annuity Tier 2.
16

C. Divorced Spouse Annuity - If you are entitled to
both an RRA employee annuity based on your
own earnings record and an RRA divorced spouse
annuity based on a different earnings record, your
RRA divorced spouse annuity is reduced by your
RRA employee annuity.
D. Surviving Divorced Spouse Annuity or
Remarried Widow Annuity - If you are entitled
to both an RRA employee annuity, based on
your own earnings record, and an RRA surviving
divorced spouse annuity or RRA remarried
widow(er) annuity, based on a different earnings
record, the reduction depends on railroad service
before January 1, 1975.
1. If there is railroad service before January 1,
1975, on either earnings record, your RRA
surviving divorced spouse annuity or RRA
remarried widow(er) annuity will be reduced by
your RRA employee annuity Tier 1.
2. If neither earnings record has railroad service
before January 1, 1975, your RRA surviving
divorced spouse annuity or RRA remarried
widow(er) annuity is reduced by your RRA
employee annuity Tier 1 and Tier 2.

Chapter 23 - Worker’s Compensation and
Public Disability Benefits
The Worker’s Compensation and Public Disability
Benefit (WC/PDB) provision only applies to
disability annuitants. If you are not filing for a
disability annuity, you can skip this chapter.
The Tier 1 component of your disability annuity
may be reduced if you are receiving WC benefits
or certain PDBs. The WC benefits that affect your
annuity are those payments made to you by a Federal
or State worker’s compensation insurance law for
a work-related injury or disease you may have.
The PDBs that may affect your annuity are those
payments made to you by a Federal, State, or local
government based on employment that is not entirely
covered by the Social Security (SS) Act.
Generally, when 85 percent or more of the period
of service for a Federal, State, or local government
is covered under the SS Act, a PDB based on that
service paid by Federal, State, or local plan will
not cause a reduction. Also, payments from the
Department of Veterans Affairs will not cause a
reduction.

Military service disability pensions based entirely
on active duty before 1957 will cause a PDB
reduction.

2. Medical Insurance (Part B) can help pay for
additional kinds of medically necessary care:
a. doctors’ services;

If you receive WC or a PDB based on any
employment from a Federal, State, or local
government that was not covered under the SS Act,
you must submit proof of the amounts and effective
dates of your WC or PDB.
PART VI - REDUCTIONS FOR OTHER
FEDERAL PROGRAMS

Chapter 24 - Medicare Coverage and You
A. General Information About Medicare Medicare is a four-part Federal health insurance
program, administered by the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS),
for people who are age 65 or older, who are
totally and permanently disabled, or who have
permanent kidney failure. The four parts are:
Part A (Hospital Insurance), Part B (Medical
Insurance), Part C (Medicare Advantage
plans) and Part D (Medicare prescription drug
coverage).
If you are eligible for Medicare because of
permanent kidney failure (End Stage Renal
Disease), you must call or visit your local
Social Security Administration office or call the
Social Security Administration at 1-800-7721213 to enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B.
For all other Medicare eligibility, the RRB can
help you enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B.
1. Hospital Insurance (Part A) can help pay for
four kinds of care:
a. inpatient hospital care;
b. inpatient care in a skilled nursing facility
following a hospital stay;
c. care in your home by a home health
agency; and,
d. hospice care.
As soon as you are determined to be eligible for
Medicare, you will automatically be enrolled for
Hospital Insurance (Part A). You do not pay a
monthly premium for your Hospital Insurance
(Part A).

b.

outpatient hospital services; and,

c. a number of other medical services and
supplies that are not covered by Hospital
Insurance (Part A).
3.

Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) like
HMO’s or PPO’s are a way to get your
Medicare coverage through private companies
that are approved by Medicare. These plans
include Part A, Part B, and usually other
coverage like prescription drugs (Part D ).
You usually pay a monthly premium (in
addition to your Part B premium) and a co-payment or co-insurance amount for covered
services. Costs, extra coverage, and rules vary
by plan.

4. Prescription Drugs (Part D) helps cover the
cost of prescription drugs. To enroll in a
Medicare prescription drug plan, you must
have Medicare Part A. Generally, you will
have to pay a monthly premium, an annual
deductible, and a share of the cost of each
prescription.
When a person first becomes eligible for
Medicare, they can enroll in a Medicare
prescription drug plan during the period that
starts three months before the month their
Medicare coverage starts and ends three
months after that month. If you do not join
a drug plan when you are first eligible, you
may have to pay a late enrollment penalty if
you choose to join later. To enroll in a Part
D plan you must contact the plan directly.
The RRB does not process enrollments in
Part D.
B. Medical Insurance (Part B) at Age 65 or Older Enrollment for Medical Insurance (Part B) depends
on your age when you file your annuity application.
1. If you are under age 64 years and 5 months
when you file your annuity application, you
will be automatically enrolled in Medical
Insurance (Part B) at age 65, unless you
decline this coverage.
17

2.

If you are at least age 64 years and 5 months,
when you file your annuity application, you
can use your employee annuity application to
enroll for Medical Insurance (Part B).

Example 2 - If your GHP coverage based on
current employment ends on March 19, and you
file for Medical Insurance (Part B), the following
applies:

If you want Medical Insurance (Part B) at age
65, you must pay a premium for each month you
have this insurance. If you receive an annuity,
the premium will usually be deducted from your
monthly annuity.

a. If you file anytime after March 19, but before
April 1, you can choose the effective date of
March 1, April 1, May 1, or June 1 for your
Medical Insurance (Part B).

If you do not want Medical Insurance (Part B) at age
65, and then later decide that you do want to sign up,
your protection may be delayed and your premiums
may be more expensive.
If at any time, you wish to cancel the election that
you make on your annuity application, you must

contact the nearest office of the RRB.
C. Special Enrollment Period - You may delay
enrolling in Medical Insurance (Part B) coverage
without penalty if you are covered under a Group
Health Plan (GHP) at age 65. The GHP must
be based on your own employment or your
spouse’s employment. You may enroll in Medical
Insurance (Part B) at any time while you are
covered under the GHP; or, you can enroll during
a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). Your SEP
begins when the employment on which the GHP
is based ends or the first month you are no longer
covered under the GHP, whichever comes first.
The SEP lasts for 8 months.
The beginning date of your Medical Insurance
(Part B) coverage depends on the status of your
GHP coverage when you file for the Medical
Insurance (Part B).
1. If you file for Medical Insurance (Part B)
during any month in which you are enrolled in
a GHP, or in the first month of your SEP, you
can choose the effective date of your Medical
Insurance (Part B). The effective date can be
the first day of the month you file or the first
day of any of the following three months after
the month of filing.
Example 1 - If your GHP coverage based on
current employment has not ended and you file
for Medical Insurance (Part B) in May, you can
chose May 1, June 1, July 1, or August 1 for
your Medical Insurance (Part B) effective date.
18

b. If you file anytime in April, you can choose
the effective date of April 1, May 1, June 1,
or July 1 for your Medical Insurance (Part
B).
2. If you file for Medical Insurance (Part B)
during the other seven months of your SEP,
your Medical Insurance (Part B) will begin the
first day of the month after the month you file.
The beginning date can be no later than the ninth
month after the start of your SEP.
Example - If your GHP coverage based on
employment ends on March 19, and you file
for Medical Insurance (Part B) anytime during
the period May 1 through November 30, your
Medical Insurance (Part B) will begin the month
after the month in which you file your annuity
application.
If you are already enrolled in Medical Insurance (Part
B) and are paying higher premiums due to late enrollment, and you had GHP coverage at age 65, you may
use your annuity application to request a review of
the Medical Insurance (Part B) premium rate you are
paying.
D. Early Medicare Based on Disability - You can also
be covered by Medicare before age 65 if you are
eligible for a monthly railroad retirement annuity
and are totally disabled for all employment. If you
are filing for an age and service annuity before the
month you will attain age 63, and you are totally
disabled, you may use your annuity application to
request a disability determination for early Medicare
coverage only. Also complete and return Form
AA-1D, Application for Determination of Employee’s
Disability. Refer to Booklet RB-1D, Employee
Disability Benefits, for an explanation of the disability
requirements.
If you are filing for a disability annuity, the RRB
will automatically do a disability determination for
an RRA annuity and early Medicare coverage.

More Information About Medicare - You may find
answers to your Medicare questions by contacting
the nearest RRB office; going to www.medicare.
gov; or calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-6334227).

Chapter 25 - Federal Income Tax Withholding
Withholding for Federal Income Tax may occur,
either based on your election filed on Form W-4P
Withholding Election Form, or, if you do not file a
Form W-4P, based on a status of “Married with three
dependents.”
PART VII - AFTER YOU APPLY FOR YOUR
ANNUITY
The chapters in this part of the booklet explain what
the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) does after you
file your annuity application. Included is important
information about how soon you can expect a decision
on your application.

Chapter 26 - Notice of Decision About Your
Age and Service Application
When you are ready to retire, contact your local
RRB office to file your employee annuity application.
Our goal is to process your application as quickly as
possible. Claims for some benefits may take longer
to handle than others if they are more complex, or
if we have to get information from other people or
organizations. If this happens, we will give you an
explanation and an estimate of the time required to
make a decision.
Sometimes we will not be able to make a decision on
your application for benefits without some additional
information from you. If so, we will contact you by
telephone or mail and ask you to send us the required
forms, proofs, or statements.
If you do not receive a notice that additional
information is needed, you should receive the decision
on your annuity application as follows:
A. Advance Filing Cases - When you file up
to three months before the earliest date your
annuity can begin (see Chapter 8), you should
receive your annuity award letter and first
payment within 35 days of the date your annuity
can begin. However, note that no payment is due
until the first day of the month after the first month
of annuity entitlement, as explained in Chapter 27.

B. Other Than Advance Filing Cases - If you do
not file your annuity application in advance of the
earliest date in which your annuity can begin, you
should receive your annuity award letter and first
payment within 65 days from the date you file your
annuity application.
C. Annuity Denial - If you cannot be paid an annuity,
the RRB will send you a decision within 35 days
of the beginning date that you requested, if you
filed in advance, or within 65 days of the date you
filed, if you did not file in advance. The letter will
explain why you cannot be paid and what you can
do if you disagree with the reason you cannot be
paid. If you think we made the wrong decision
about your benefits, you have the right to ask for a
review and to appeal within the required time limit
shown in the denial letter.

Chapter 27 - How Payments Are Made
The first payment you receive from the RRB will be
separate from your annuity award letter. Annuities are
payable at the beginning of the month following the
month for which the annuity accrued. The payment
that you receive at the beginning of the month actually
represents the annuity that accrued for the previous
month.
A. Advance Filing Cases - When you file up to three
months before the earliest date your annuity can
begin (see Chapter 8), no payment is due until
the first day of the month after the first month of
annuity entitlement.
B. Other Than Advance Filing Cases - If you are
not filing in advance of your annuity beginning
date, the initial payment may be a partial
payment, with an estimated monthly rate, representing payment due through the end of the
preceding month. You will continue to receive
this partial amount until your final rate can be
determined and awarded. Once your final rate has
been certified, you will receive any increase due
from your annuity beginning date. You may receive
this payment at any time during the month.
Remember: The payment that you receive after
your initial payment will be made once a month
on the first day of the month. If the first day of
the month falls on a Sunday or a holiday, you will
receive the payment on the next business day. The

19

payment that you receive at the beginning of
each month actually represents the annuity
that accrued for the previous month.

Chapter 28 - Receiving Your Payments
All applicants filing for RRB benefits must choose to
receive their annuity payments by Direct Deposit to
their financial institution or by the Direct Express® Debit
MasterCard®.
Even though your payments are paid electronically, be
sure to keep your home address on our records current.
See Chapter 29 for additional information.
A. Direct Deposit
Under the RRB’s Direct Deposit program, your
monthly annuity payment will be deposited directly
into the bank, credit union, or financial institution
account that you indicate on your annuity application.
You will find that this is both safe and convenient.
If you decline direct deposit, you can still change
your mind at a later date. Telephone or visit an RRB
office. Have one of your personal checks available
because it contains the information needed to start
direct deposit.
Or, you may take one of your annuity checks to
your financial institution and ask them to complete
an automated Quick$tart enrollment or a Form
SF-1199A, Authorization for Deposit of Federal
Recurring Benefits. Your financial institution will
submit your enrollment to the RRB. Shortly after the
RRB receives your direct deposit information, your
monthly annuity payment will start going directly to
your savings or checking account.
If you later change your account or financial
institution, follow the steps indicated above
for direct deposit to your new account. Keep
your old account open until the direct deposit
of payments to your new account begins.
B. Direct Express® Debit MasterCard®
The Direct Express® Debit MasterCard® is a
prepaid Debit MasterCard® you can use to get
your monthly annuity payment. You do not need
an account at a financial institution to sign up.
Your monthly annuity payment will automatically
be deposited directly to your card account. You
20

can use your card to make purchases, pay bills or
get cash. There is no sign-up fee or monthly fees,
and most services are free. After your annuity has
been approved, you will receive in the mail a Direct
Express® Debit MasterCard® and an information
package explaining the services available.

Chapter 29 - Change of Address
Notify the nearest RRB office immediately if you
change your address, even when your monthly
annuity payments are going directly to your savings
or checking account. All correspondence from the
RRB is sent to your home mailing address on record.
This mailing address is used to send any material other
than your payments to you (such as notices of cost-ofliving increases, Medicare information, new Annual
Earnings Exempt Amounts, and tax statements). If you
do not report your change of address, the RRB cannot
be responsible for any important information that you
do not receive.
A notice of change of address must always include:







your RRB claim number;
your name;
your new address;
your old address; and
the date you will start receiving mail at the
new address.
If you have a spouse who is also receiving
an RRA annuity, state whether the change of
address applies to both of you or to you alone.

Chapter 30 - Receiving a Tax Refund of Excess
Social Security Tax
If, in any year before you retired, you worked for
more than one railroad employer or worked in both
railroad employment and social security-covered
employment, your combined gross earnings from
employment or net earnings from self-employment
may have exceeded the Tier 1 yearly earnings
maximum for that year. You may qualify for a refund
of any excess taxes that were withheld from your
earnings under the Federal Insurance Contributions
Act (FICA) or the Railroad Retirement Tax Act
(RRTA) or that you paid under the Self-Employment
Contributions Act (SECA).

A. Earnings After 1974 - Your combined railroad and
social security-covered earnings may exceed the
Tier 1 yearly earnings maximum in any year after
1974, if you either:
1. work in both railroad employment (RRTA) and
social security-covered employment (FICA) or
2. work for two railroad employers (RRTA).
You can obtain a refund of the FICA or RRTA
tax for the earnings in excess of the Tier 1 yearly
earnings maximum. Claim the amount of the
excess FICA or RRTA tax on your income tax
return (U.S. Individual Income Tax Form 1040 or
Form 1040A, under Excess FICA or RRTA Tax
Withheld). This is how people who have never
worked in the railroad industry get refunds for their
excess social security taxes. There is a three year
statute of limitations on such claims.
B. Earnings 1951 through 1974 - If your combined
railroad and social security-covered earnings
exceeded the yearly earnings maximum in any year
from 1951 through 1974, you qualify for the refund
of excess tax if you have at least 120 months (10
years) of railroad service and are not entitled to
a Vested Dual Benefit. The refund is the amount
of the RRTA, FICA, or SECA tax based on the
amount of your yearly earnings that exceeded the
yearly earnings maximum for that year. If you
qualify for this refund, you do not have to apply for
it. The RRB will automatically pay it to you when
you retire. If you die before receiving this refund, it
will be paid to your survivors.

Chapter 31 - Receiving a Railroad Separation
Allowance Payment

Step 2 - If the result of Step 1 is greater than
zero, multiply the result of Step 1 by the
amount of the employee Tier 2 contribution
rate(s) under the Railroad Retirement Tax Act
(26 USC 3221) for the year(s) the Separation
Allowance was paid.
B. Eligibility Requirements - To be eligible for a
Separation Allowance lump-sum payment, you
must have completed at least 120 months of railroad
service, or 60-119 months of railroad service with at
least 60 months of railroad service after 1995. If you
qualify for the payment, you do not have to apply for
it. The RRB will automatically pay it to you when
you retire. If you die before receiving this payment,
it will be paid to your survivors.

Chapter 32 - Records You Should Keep
We recommend that you keep this booklet after you file
your annuity application. It contains important information concerning your entitlement to benefits.
You should also keep your:
1. annuity award notice or denial notice;
2. notes from the RRB representatives who helped you
file your annuity application. The notes should detail
any special aspects of your claim (such as why a
certain employer was or was not your LPE);
3. copy of the Form AA-1, Receipt for Your Claim;
4. copy of Federal Income Tax Form W-4P,
Withholding Election Form; and,
5. Booklet RB-9, Employee and Spouse Annuities Events That Must Be Reported, to help you comply
with the RRB’s reporting requirements.

You may be entitled to an additional lump-sum
payment if you received a Separation Allowance
after 1984 and such payment did not provide additional
railroad retirement service credits, as explained in Chapter
12.
A. Computation of Lump Sum - The Separation
Allowance lump-sum payment for the year(s) the
Separation Allowance was paid is computed as
follows:
Step 1 - Subtract the amount of the Separation
Allowance used in the total railroad service
credits from the total amount of the Separation
Allowance subject to Tier 2 taxation.
21

Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability
Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)
regulations, no qualified person may be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
RRB programs and activities must be accessible to all qualified applicants and beneficiaries, including those with impaired vision or hearing. Disabled persons needing assistance
(including auxiliary aids or program information in accessible formats) should contact the
nearest RRB office. Complaints of alleged discrimination by the RRB on the basis of disability must be filed within 90 days in writing with the Director of Administration, Railroad
Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60611-1275. Questions
about individual rights under this regulation may be directed to the RRB’s Director of Equal
Opportunity at the same address.

Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Hotline
The RRB’s Office of Inspector General established its Hotline as a public service. The
Hotline provides individuals with a means to report or discuss any suspected misconduct
relating to the RRB, its programs or employees.
If you believe a doctor, hospital, or other health care provider is billing Medicare for services
not provided or for unnecessary medical procedures or supplies; someone is illegally
receiving RRB benefits; or you wish to report or discuss any other suspected misconduct
relating to the RRB, its programs or employees, please contact the Office of Inspector General
at:
Toll-Free Hotline: 1-800-772-4258
U.S. Mail: RRB-OIG Hotline Officer
844 North Rush Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611-1275
Fax: (312) 751-4342
Email: [email protected]
Please review the RRB’s email notice and Internet privacy policy at www.rrb.gov before
submitting information online.
Note: Please do not contact the Office of Inspector General’s Hotline with questions
regarding benefit eligibility requirements, delayed payments or similar problems. These types
of matters should be directed to an RRB office.

Paperwork Reduction Act and Privacy Act Notices
This notice is given under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
and the Privacy Act of 1974. The Privacy Act requires that the
Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) tell you the following whenever
we ask you for information:
1) The law which allows us to ask for information;
2) whether that law requires you to give us the
information and what, if anything, might happen to you if
you do not give it to us;
3) the reason why the information is requested; and
4) the persons, organizations, and agencies to which we
may release the information without your permission.
The RRB’s authority for requesting this information is Section
7(b) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) of 1974. Providing
us with this information is voluntary on your part. However, if
you fail to provide us with the requested information we may be
unable to pay you any benefits. The RRB needs this information to
determine whether you are eligible to receive such benefits and, if
so, the amount you are entitled to receive. If your annuity application is approved and we begin to pay you benefits, information that
we may request from you in the future will be used to determine
whether you are entitled to continue to receive such benefits.
Although the information we request is almost never used for
any purpose other than the payment of benefits under the RRA,
the RRB does have the authority to release information to the
indicated individuals, organizations, and/or agencies without your
approval:
1) An attorney, the Office of the President, a
Congressional office, a labor union or the Department of
State’s embassy or consular offices if they allege to be
representing you at your request.
2) Other people who are receiving benefits based on the
same railroad retirement account as you are if the
information affects their payments from the RRB.
3) A person who will receive benefits on your behalf if the
RRB decided that some medical condition keeps you from
receiving your own benefits; such information may also be
released in determining whether such a medical condition
exists and who is suitable to receive such benefits for you.
4) People or organizations who are working for the RRB;
such information may include medical records.
5) The U.S. Treasury Department or U.S. Postal Service
to issue payments and to investigate lost, forged, or
stolen payments.
6) Your last employer to make sure that you are eligible to
receive railroad retirement benefits and you continue to
receive any available medical benefits, and to any railroad
employer (or to its insurance company) to make sure that
you can receive any private retirement or insurance
benefits which may be offered by the employer.

7) The Social Security Administration, Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services, Pension Benefit
Guarantee Corporation, Office of Personnel Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs, or Federal, State, or local
welfare or public aid agencies to determine if you can
receive benefits from their organizations and if any
previous benefits were paid incorrectly.
8) The Internal Revenue Service or to State and local
taxing authorities for figuring your taxes and for use in audits.
9) Your last address and the name of your last employer
may be released to the Department of Health and Human
Services to be used in the Parent Locator Service.
10) The Government Accountability Office for audits and
for collecting overpayments owed to the RRB or the
Social Security Administration.
11) The U.S. Department of Labor as required by the
Federal Coal Mine and Safety Act.
12) In certain cases for law enforcement purposes and for
court proceedings.
13) Information about the determination and recovery of
an overpayment made to you may be released to any
other person from whom any portion of the overpayment
is being recovered.
14) Your name and address may be released to a
Member of Congress to inform you about current or
proposed legislation which could affect the railroad
retirement system.
15) Professional Standards Review Organizations and
State Licensing Boards when services provided by
physicians or practitioners suggest unethical or
unprofessional conduct.

We estimate the application process takes an average of 29 to
62 minutes per response to complete, including the time for
reviewing the instructions, getting the needed data, and reviewing
the completed form. Federal agencies may not conduct or sponsor,
and respondents are not required to respond to, a collection of
information unless it displays a valid OMB number. If you wish,
send comments regarding the accuracy of our estimate or any other
aspect of this process, including suggestions for reducing the completion time, to the Associate Chief Information Officer for Policy
and Compliance, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush
Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-1275.
Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act Notice
The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988
requires the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) to advise you that
information you have provided may be used, without your consent,
in automated matching programs. These matching programs are a
computer comparison of RRB records with records kept by other
Federal, State, or local governmental agencies. Information from
these programs can be used to establish or verify a person’s eligibility for federally funded or administered benefit programs and for
repayment of payments or delinquent debts under these programs.

U.S. Railroad Retirement Board

Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300

RB-1

Printed Matter