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.