Policy and Systems

Disabled Children

Children can be included in the Special Guaranty at age 18, or older, if they have a disability that began before they attained age 22 that makes them totally disabled from any regular employment.

The RRB will require medical evidence of their disability when these children attain age 18.

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Definition of Unmarried Child

The minor children, disabled children, or students must be unmarried to be included in the Special Guaranty computation. They are unmarried if:

they have never been married; or,
they were married before the Special Guaranty computation became payable and that marriage ended by death, divorce, or annulment.

If minor children or students marry after being included in the Special Guaranty computation, their entitlement will end. They will never again be eligible to be included in the Special Guaranty computation.

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Eligible Children

The term "children" means your dependent and unmarried: natural children, adopted children, stepchildren, or, under certain conditions, your grandchildren whose parents are deceased or disabled. Children may be included in the Special Guaranty computation if they are:

under age 18;
age 18 or older and qualify as disabled children; or,
age 18-19 and qualify as full-time students.

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Spouse Election Cases

Refer to Booklet RB-30, " Spouse/Divorced Spouse Annuity" to determine the employee age requirement to qualify a spouse for an RRA spouse annuity. Your spouse can elect to be included in the Special Guaranty computation by accepting an age reduction if:

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Spouse Age Requirement

If your spouse does not have your child-in-care, your spouse must be age 62 for a full month to be included in the Special Guaranty based on age.

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Spouse Entitled Based on Child-in-Care

If your spouse has your "child-in-care" who is under age 16 or who became totally and permanently disabled before attaining age 22, your spouse can be included in the Special Guaranty computation at any age.

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Spouse Marriage Requirement

Your spouse can be included in the Special Guaranty computation if your spouse meets one of the following marriage requirements. Your spouse:

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When the Special Guaranty Increase Is No Longer Payable

Effective the month the regular RRA annuity computation exceeds the Special Guaranty rate, in other than work deduction cases, the Special Guaranty rate will no longer be payable. This could occur:

when family members become entitled to other benefits (see Part IV); or,
due to terminating events for family members (see Part V).

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How The Special Guaranty Is Paid

If both you and your spouse are entitled to RRA annuities, the Special Guaranty increase is divided between the employee and spouse annuities. You receive 2/3 of the family total (excluding any divorced spouse) as your monthly annuity rate. Your spouse receives 1/3 of the family total (excluding any divorced spouse) as the spouse monthly annuity rate.

If you are not married, or your spouse does not meet the requirements for an RRA spouse annuity, the total family rate (excluding a divorced spouse) is paid to you as your annuity rate.

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When The Increase Can Begin Based On Age

The increase can begin the later of:

your annuity beginning date;
the first full month you are age 62; or,
the first full month your spouse, who was married to you on your employee annuity beginning date, is age 62 and meets the other spouse eligibility requirements.

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