The benefits are not paid directly to the student. If both the employee and the spouse are entitled to railroad retirement annuities, the amount of the total family benefit is divided between the employee and spouse annuities. The employee receives 2/3 of the family total (excluding any divorce spouse) as the employee monthly annuity rate. The spouse receives 1/3 of the family total (excluding any divorced spouse) as the spouse monthly annuity rate.
If there is no spouse annuitant, the total family Special Guaranty rate (excluding any divorced spouse) is paid to the employee as the employee monthly annuity rate.