The employee must be currently receiving an employee annuity and must attain a certain age in order for you to qualify for a spouse annuity or divorced spouse annuity. If the employee has attained the required age, you may then be eligible for a spouse annuity, regardless of your age, if you have the employee's Child-in-Care. Otherwise, your own age requirement is explained in this section.
The age requirement for a spouse annuity depends on both the employee's total months of railroad service and the employee's Annuity Beginning Date (ABD). Your Full Retirement Age affects the amount of any age reduction to your spouse annuity.
- Employee's ABD is After December 2001 and Based on 60-119 Months of Railroad Service with at Least 60 Months of Railroad Service After 1995 - The employee must be at least age 62 to qualify you for a spouse annuity. The employee must have a Social Security (SS) Act Insured Status to qualify you for a Tier 1 component. You must have attained age 62 for a full month.
- Employee's ABD is After December 1974 and Based on 120-359 Months of Railroad Service - The employee must be at least age 62 to qualify you for a spouse annuity. You must have attained age 62 for a full month.
- Employee's ABD is After June 1974 and Based on at Least 360 Months of Railroad Service - The employee must be at least age 60 to qualify you for a spouse annuity beginning January 1, 1975, or later. You must have attained age 60 for a full month.
- Employee's ABD is Before January 1975 if the Employee Has Less Than 360 Months of Railroad Service or Employee's ABD is Before July 1974 if the Employee Has at Least 360 Months of Railroad Service - The employee must be at least age 65 to qualify you for a spouse annuity. You must have attained age 62 for a full month.