If you are entitled to more than one Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) annuity, the other RRA annuity can have an effect on your spouse or divorced spouse annuity.
Spouse Annuity
If you are entitled to both an 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:
- Railroad Service Before January 1, 1975
If either earnings record has railroad service before January 1, 1975, your RRA spouse annuity tier I is reduced by your own RRA employee annuity tier I. The reduction in your RRA spouse annuity tier I may be restored to your RRA spouse annuity tier II; or
- No Railroad Service Before January 1, 1975
If neither earnings record has railroad service before January 1, 1975, your RRA spouse annuity tier I 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.
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.
Survivor Annuity
If you are entitled to both an RRA spouse/divorced spouse annuity and an RRA survivor annuity based on a different earnings record, only the higher of your RRA spouse/divorced spouse annuity or your RRA survivor annuity is payable unless you elect to receive the smaller benefit.