|
Stop
Railroad Work
In addition to the requirements in Applying
for Your Annuity, if you are working for a railroad,
you must stop the railroad work and give up any rights you
have to return to such work.
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.
File
RRA Annuity Application
You must file an RRA application for
a spouse annuity or divorced spouse annuity to receive railroad
retirement spouse or divorced spouse benefits.
If you were previously entitled
to spouse benefits based on Child-in-Care
that terminated when the child attained age 18, you may
need to file another spouse annuity application. This application
is required to pay spouse benefits based on your age. Please
discuss this with an RRB representative.
When you file an application, 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 that may be to your advantage.
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.
Note, if you delay filing for benefits,
you may lose benefits for some or all of the period before
the month in which you file.
Earliest
Spouse Annuity Beginning Date
The earliest spouse annuity beginning
date permitted by law is the latest of the following:
- the first day of the month you meet the marriage requirement;
- the day after the day you last worked in the railroad
industry;
- the first day of the first full month in which you are
age 62 if the employee has less than 360 months of railroad
service and you file for a Reduced
Age Annuity;
- the first day of the first full month in which you are
age 60 if the employee has at least 360 months of railroad
service;
- the first day of the month in which you are Full
Retirement Age (FRA) if the employee has less than
360 months of railroad service and you file for a Full
Age Annuity;
- the first day of the month in which you filed your annuity
application if your annuity is reduced for early retirement
and an earlier beginning date would increase your age
reduction; or,
- the first full month you have the employee’s Child-in-Care,
regardless of the dates in Items 3 - 5; or,
- the first day of the sixth month prior to the month
in which you filed your annuity application if your annuity
is not reduced for age or if an earlier beginning date
would not increase an age reduction.
However, your spouse annuity will not begin before the
railroad employee’s annuity begins or before the railroad
employee meets the age
requirement.
If items 1- 5 apply, you can file your application up to
three months before the earliest annuity beginning date
permitted by law.
Earliest
Divorced Spouse Annuity Beginning Date
The earliest divorced spouse annuity beginning date permitted
by law is the latest of the following:
- the first day of the month in which your decree of
absolute divorce becomes final;
- the day after the day you last worked in the railroad
industry;
- the first day of the first full month in which you are
age 62 if you file for a Reduced
Age Annuity;
- the first day of month in which you are Full
Retirement Age (FRA) if you file for a Full Age Annuity;
- the first day of the month in which you file your annuity
application if your RRA annuity is reduced for early
retirement; or,
- the first day of the sixth month prior to the month
in which you file your annuity application if your RRA
annuity is not reduced for early retirement.
However, your divorced spouse annuity will not begin before
the railroad employee's annuity begins or before the railroad
employee meets the age
requirement.
If Items 1-4 above apply, you can file your application
up to three months before the earliest annuity beginning
date permitted by law.
|
