Policy and Systems

Change of Address

Even though your payments may be sent by direct deposit, notify both the RRB and the financial institution that receives your payment as soon as possible if your home address changes.

We need your home address to mail important information about RRB benefit increases, earnings allowances, Medicare, and your income tax statements. If you do not report your address changes, the RRB is not responsible for information you do not receive.

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Spouse or Employee Death

Promptly notify the RRB when an employee or spouse dies to avoid possible overpayment. An annuity is not payable for the month in which an employee or spouse dies. It is against the law to cash an annuity check issued to a person who has died. If a payment by check is received after that person's date of death, it must be returned to the RRB or to the Treasury Department address shown on the envelope.

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Conviction for a Criminal Offense

A prison sentence or confinement for a conviction for a criminal offense changes the income tax liability for annuity payments and the reports required by the RRB to the IRS.

Read more about Conviction for a Criminal Offense

Qualifying Child Status Changes

If your spouse annuity is based on a child in your care, your benefit eligibility ends if certain events occur before you qualify for an annuity based on your age. If the child attains age 18 or is no longer disabled, or if the child enters military service, marries, dies, or leaves your care before age 18, your payments must stop.

Read more about Qualifying Child Status Changes

Marital Status Change

If your marriage ends by divorce or annulment, notify the RRB to have our records corrected (including any name change) and to assure that any spouse annuity is adjusted or terminated timely. Also report if a child included in the Special Guaranty computation marries.

Read more about Marital Status Change

Workers Compensation or Other Disability-Based Public Benefits

Your disability annuity Tier 1 component is subject to a reduction if you also receive worker's compensation or another public, disability-based, benefit before you reach Full Retirement Age. This reduction requirement may apply even if you received a lump-sum or an amount divided and paid in several payments. If you receive a public disability or worker's compensation award, or if the amount you receive changes, notify the RRB as soon as possible. Delay may cause a large annuity overpayment of your annuity.

Read more about Workers Compensation or Other Disability-Based Public Benefits

Disability Work Deductions

If you are less than Full Retirement Age and you receive a disability-based annuity, the Annual Earnings Exempt Amount does not apply to your disability tier 1 component.

Read more about Disability Work Deductions

Disability and Medical Recovery

You must report ANY new employment. It is important that your report includes:

The kind of work you are doing;
How much you expect to earn each month;
The period of time you expect to be working;
How many hours you expect to work; and,
The amount of any disability-related work expenses.

Work and earnings will be evaluated to see if you are able to perform regular work. ANY work after your annuity begins, regardless of your amount of earnings, may raise questions about medical recovery.

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Total and Permanent Disability after Retirement

Contact the RRB if you are receiving an age and service annuity or occupational disability annuity and you become totally disabled before you reach Full Retirement Age. You may be eligible for early Medicare coverage and other benefits if you meet the requirements for total and permanent disability.

Read more about Total and Permanent Disability after Retirement

Pension from a Railroad Employer

The supplemental annuity is reduced by the amount of a pension from a railroad employer that is based on the employer's contributions. Notify the RRB promptly if you begin receiving a railroad pension or receive a lump-sum distribution from a railroad pension. Not doing so will cause your supplemental annuity to be overpaid.

Read more about Pension from a Railroad Employer