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.
Spouse Annuity
If you are entitled to both a Railroad Retirement Act 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:
- If either earnings record has railroad service before January 1, 1975, your RRA spouse annuity tier I is reduced by your RRA employee annuity tier I. The reduction may be restored to your RRA spouse annuity tier II.
- If neither earnings record has railroad service before January 1, 1975, your RRA spouse annuity tier II and tier II is reduced by your own RRA employee annuity tier I and tier II. The reduction is not restored to your RRA spouse annuity tier II.
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.
- If either earnings record has at least 120 months of railroad service before January 1, 1975, your RRA widow(er) annuity tier I is reduced by your own RRA employee annuity tier I. If you are a widow, the reduction may be partially restored to your RRA widow annuity tier II. 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.
- 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 I is reduced by your own RRA employee annuity tier I. The reduction is not restored to your widow(er) annuity tier II.
- If neither earnings record has any railroad service before January 1, 1975, your RRA widow(er) annuity tier I and tier II is reduced by your RRA employee annuity tier I and tier II. The reduction is not restored to your RRA widow(er) annuity tier II.
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.
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.
- 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 I.
- 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 I and tier II.