Prepared by Public Affairs 312-751-4777
Railroad employees who are planning to retire should be aware of what steps
to take and what documents are required when applying for an annuity from the
Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). Being prepared can prevent needless delays and
ensure that payments from the RRB begin as soon as possible after retirement.
The following questions and answers describe the application process and other
related items that retiring employees, as well as their spouses or survivors,
should be aware of.
1. How are railroad retirement annuity
applications filed?
Applications are filed through the RRB’s
field offices. Applicants may file in
person or by telephone and mail. Those filing in person may do so at any RRB
office or at one of the office’s customer outreach program service locations.
Applicants filing by telephone receive the same information and instructions
that are provided to those filing in person; forms requiring signatures and
other documents are then handled by mail.
The addresses and phone numbers of all the RRB’s field offices are available on
the agency’s Web site at www.rrb.gov or by calling the toll-free RRB Help Line
at 1-800-808-0772. The RRB Help Line is an automated telephone service available
24 hours a day, 7 days a week. RRB field offices are open to the public from
9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal holidays.
2. Can an application be filed prior to a person’s actual retirement date?
The RRB accepts annuity applications up to 3 months in advance of an annuity
beginning date, which allows the RRB to complete the processing of most new
claims by a person’s retirement date. An employee can be in compensated service
while filing a disability application provided that the compensated service
terminates either before the annuity beginning date or before the end of the
3-month period. When an employee files a disability application while still in
compensated service, it will be necessary to provide a specific ending date of
the compensation. Compensated service includes not only compensation with
respect to active service performed by an employee for an employer, but also
includes pay for time lost, wage continuation payments, certain employee
protection payments and any other payment for which the employee will receive
additional creditable service.
To expedite the filing process, applicants should contact their local RRB field
office to schedule time for a pre-retirement consultation and also to confirm
their eligibility and be advised as to the required documents. The consultation
can be conducted in person, or by telephone, with an RRB representative who will
provide an annuity estimate, explain a retiree’s benefit rights and
responsibilities, and answer related questions.
Railroad employees can also get estimates of their future annuities over the
Internet. Employees can access this service, called “Retirement Planner,” by
visiting www.rrb.gov and clicking on “Benefit Online Services” for directions on
establishing an RRB Internet Services account.
3. What are some of the documents required with an application?
- All applicants have to furnish proof of their age.
- All applicants should be prepared to furnish the notice of any social security
benefit award or other social security claim determination.
- An employee may be required to submit information regarding any other Federal,
State or local government pension for which he or she also qualifies, as well as
certain other payments not covered by railroad retirement or social security,
such as from a non-profit organization or from a foreign government or a foreign
employer.
- An employee or survivor filing for a disability annuity is required to submit
supporting medical information from his or her treating physician, as well as
any reports or records from recent hospitalizations. He or she may also be asked
to go for one or more specialized medical examinations. If an employee
disability applicant is receiving workers’ compensation or public disability
benefits, notice of the amount and beginning date of such payments must be
submitted.
- An employee will have to furnish proof of any military service claimed.
- A spouse, divorced spouse or widow(er) applying for a railroad retirement
annuity must furnish proof of marriage to the employee. A divorced spouse must
furnish proof of a final divorce from the employee, as well as proof that any
subsequent marriages have terminated.
- A spouse, divorced spouse or survivor also qualified to receive a public
service pension must submit information regarding that pension.
- All applicants have to provide banking information necessary for the Direct
Deposit of their benefit payments.
A booklet, “Furnishing Evidence to Support Your Claim”
(Form RB-3), gives
detailed information as to the types of proofs that are required when filing for
an annuity, as well as sources from which these documents can be obtained. The
booklet is available free of charge at any RRB office or at www.rrb.gov.
4. Can proofs be filed in advance of retirement?
Railroad employees are encouraged to
file proofs of their correct birth date and
their military service well in advance of retirement. The information will be
recorded and stored electronically until they actually retire. This will
expedite the annuity application process and avoid any delays resulting from
inadequate proofs.
If employees do not have an official record of their birth or military service,
their local RRB office will explain how to get acceptable evidence. All evidence
brought or mailed to an RRB office will be handled carefully and returned
promptly.
5. What is the retroactivity of a railroad retirement application?
The retroactivity of a railroad retirement annuity application is limited to 1
year for disability annuities and 6 months for full age annuities. There is
generally no retroactivity for reduced age annuities.
Retroactivity of a survivor annuity application is 1 year for disabled
widow(er)s and 6 months for full retirement age widow(er)s, mothers (fathers),
children and parents. Retroactivity for widow(er)s ages 60-61 is 6 months if it
does not increase the age reduction (this does not apply to surviving divorced
spouses or remarried widow(er)s). Otherwise, there is generally no retroactivity
for reduced age widow(er)s’ annuities.
6. Are retiring railroad employees required to relinquish their rights to their
railroad jobs?
An employee annuity based on age cannot be paid until the employee stops
railroad employment and gives up any rights to return to work for a railroad
employer. While an annuity based on disability is not paid until an employee has
stopped working for a railroad, employment rights need not be relinquished until
the employee attains full retirement age. However, in order for a supplemental
annuity to be paid by the RRB, or for an eligible spouse to begin receiving
annuity payments, a disabled annuitant under full retirement age must relinquish
employment rights. And, regardless of age and/or earnings, no railroad
retirement annuity is payable for any month in which a retired or disabled
employee annuitant, a spouse annuitant or a survivor annuitant works for an
employer covered under the Railroad Retirement Act. However, service for less
than $25 a month to a local lodge will not prevent payment of the annuity for
that month.
Railroad retirement annuitants may work in nonrailroad employment, but benefits
may be reduced if a beneficiary under full retirement age works after retirement
and earnings exceed annual exempt amounts. Additional earnings deductions are
assessed if a retired or disabled employee annuitant, or a spouse annuitant,
works for his or her last pre-retirement nonrailroad employer, regardless of age
or the level of earnings.
Special restrictions also apply to any earnings by disabled employees.
7. How soon after filing can an applicant expect payment?
Under the RRB’s Customer Service Plan, if you filed for a railroad retirement
employee or spouse annuity in advance of the beginning date of the annuity, you
can expect the RRB to make a decision within 35 days of the beginning date of
the annuity. If you did not file in advance, you can expect the RRB to make a
decision within 60 days of the date you filed your application. If you filed for
an initial survivor annuity, you can expect the RRB to make a decision within 60
days of the beginning date of the annuity. If you are already receiving a spouse
annuity, you can expect a decision to be made within 30 days of the date you
filed an application for survivor benefits. If you filed for a lump-sum benefit,
you can expect the RRB to make a decision within 60 days of the date the RRB
receives notice of the employee’s death.
After the RRB has made its decision, you should receive a notice of award or
denial within 2 weeks. If entitled to benefits, you can generally expect that
the payment will be deposited in your bank account within 1 week of the RRB’s
decision.
For disability annuities, processing applications is more complex than for other
benefits due to the need to develop medical evidence. Under the Customer Service
Plan, if you filed for a disability annuity, you can expect the RRB to make a
decision within 100 days of the date your application was filed. At the time of
filing, the RRB’s field office staff will provide you with additional
information on processing times for decisions and payments.
Of course, claims for some benefits may take longer to handle than others if
they are more complex, or if information from other people or organizations is
needed. If this happens, the RRB will provide an explanation and an estimate of
the additional time required to make a decision.
8. How are railroad retirement payments made?
Persons applying for railroad retirement benefits will be automatically enrolled
in the U.S. Treasury’s Direct Deposit Program, which electronically transfers
Federal payments into individuals’ checking or savings accounts. Direct Deposit
waivers are, however, available to individuals who determine that Direct Deposit
would cause a hardship, and to individuals without bank accounts.
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