Policy and Systems

Requirements The Employee Must Have Met

The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) can pay a lump-sum death payment only if the employee:

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Lump-Sum Death Payment

If it appears that you may be entitled to a lump-sum death payment, please read this part of the booklet thoroughly. It will provide information which will help you understand what a lump-sum death payment is and when one can be paid.

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Lump-Sum Death Payment, Residual Lump-Sum, Annuities Unpaid at Death

Introduction

Refer to this booklet if it appears you may be entitled to one or more of the following benefits:

Lump-Sum Death Payment
Residual Lump-Sum
Annuities Unpaid At Death
Railroad Tax Refund

The sections in the booklet explain:

The different types of benefits.
The requirements that must be met before each payment can be made.

The booklet also contains information about:

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Personal Injury Settlements

You may receive benefits for any kind of injury or illness whether it occurs on or off the job; but if you are paid a settlement or collect damages as a result of the injury or illness, the amount of your benefits must be refunded to the RRB. This is true regardless of a State's "no-fault" law. The RRB will normally notify the liable party, and the person or company making the settlement or paying the damages usually reimburses the RRB for the amount due. However, if the RRB is not reimbursed in full at the time of settlement, you may have to repay benefits to the RRB.

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Benefit Reductions

Benefits are not payable to you in the full amount if you are also receiving:

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Medical Examination

In certain situations you may be required to be examined by a doctor selected by the RRB. If you fail to take the medical examination when required, you may be disqualified from receiving sickness benefits.

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Benefits Under Other Laws

You will be disqualified from receiving railroad sickness insurance benefits for any day for which you:

receive sickness benefits under any other law; or
receive unemployment benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act or any similar law.

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False or Fraudulent Claim

You will be disqualified for both unemployment and sickness benefits for 75 days if you make a false or fraudulent statement or claim in order to receive benefits. You may also be subject to fine or imprisonment. The RRB conducts checks, including computer matching checks, with State and Federal agencies as well as railroads, in order to detect fraudulent benefit claims.

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Separation Allowance (severance pay, buyout)

If you have been paid a separation allowance by your employer, you cannot receive sickness benefits for approximately the period of time it would have taken you to earn the amount of the allowance.

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Disqualifications

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