News Releases | RRB.Gov

Q&A: The Importance of a Current Connection for Railroad Retirement Benefits

A current connection with the railroad industry is one of the eligibility requirements under the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) for both the occupational disability and supplemental annuities payable by the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). (A railroad employee does not need a current connection to be eligible for any other type of railroad retirement benefit or for purposes of Medicare coverage.) A current connection is also a factor in determining whether the RRB or the Social Security Administration will pay monthly survivor benefits, which are generally larger when paid by the RRB.

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Q&A: Disability Annuities for Railroad Employees

The Railroad Retirement Act provides disability annuities for railroaders who become totally or occupationally disabled. Medicare coverage before age 65 is also available for totally disabled employees and those suffering from ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) or chronic kidney disease.

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Q&A: Private Railroad Pensions May Reduce RRB Supplemental Annuities

Railroad retirement annuitants are reminded that receipt of a private railroad pension may reduce the amount of a supplemental annuity payable by the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). The following questions and answers provide information on this subject and how 401(k) plans are affected by the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA).

1. What are the eligibility requirements for a supplemental annuity?

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Q&A: Railroad Retirement Spouse and Widow(er)s' Annuities and Public Service Pensions

Unless certain exemption requirements are met, Railroad Retirement Act spouse and widow(er)s’ annuities (including divorced spouse, surviving divorced spouse, and remarried widow(er)s’ annuities) must be reduced when a spouse or widow(er) is also entitled to a public service pension. Such dual entitlement, if not reported to the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), can result in benefit overpayments which have to be repaid, sometimes with interest and penalties.

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Q&A: Applying for a Railroad Retirement Annuity

Railroad employees considering retirement should familiarize themselves with the Railroad Retirement Board’s (RRB) annuity application process. Being prepared can prevent needless delays and ensure that railroad retirement annuity payments begin as soon as possible after retirement.

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Q&A: Railroad Retirement Annuities and Pensions from Work Not Covered by Railroad Retirement or Social Security

Employee annuities paid under the Railroad Retirement Act are subject to dual benefit reductions when social security benefits are also payable. Railroad retirement annuities may also be reduced when certain public, non-profit, or foreign pension payments are due a retired employee.

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Q&A: Deemed Service Month Credits

Railroad retirement annuities are based on months of service and earnings. Earnings are creditable up to certain annual maximums on the amount of compensation subject to railroad retirement taxes.

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Q&A: Acting for Impaired Railroad Retirement Annuitants

According to Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) policy, every annuitant has the right to manage his or her own benefits. However, when physical or mental impairments make a railroad retirement annuitant incapable of properly handling benefit payments, or where the RRB determines that the interests of the annuitant so require, the agency can appoint a representative payee to act on the annuitant's behalf. A representative payee may be either a person or an organization selected by the RRB to receive benefits on behalf of an annuitant.

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Q&A: Railroad Retirement Service Credits and Pay for Time Lost

The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) frequently receives questions from railroad employers, employees, and employees' legal advisors about the RRB's treatment of pay for time lost in retirement cases. The most common type of pay for time lost situation arises out of personal injury settlements. Other types include dismissal allowances, guaranteed wages, displacement allowances paid for loss of earnings resulting from the employee being placed in a position or occupation paying less money, and reinstatement awards which include back pay.

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Q&A: RRB Reports Performance Under Customer Service Plan

The Railroad Retirement Board’s (RRB) Customer Service Plan promotes quality public service through timeliness standards dictating how long it should take the RRB to decide to pay or deny an application for a railroad retirement annuity or unemployment or sickness benefit. An important part of the plan is its pledge to inform the public about how well the agency meets those timeliness standards.

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