Glossary

A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z

R

Railroad Retirement:
A Federal insurance program similar to Social Security designed for workers in the railroad industry. The provisions of the Railroad Retirement Act provide for a system of coordination and financial interchange between the Railroad Retirement program and the Social Security program.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Redetermination:
Renewal of eligibility for health care benefits.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Referral:
An OK from a primary care doctor to see a specialist or get certain services. In many Medicare managed care plans, individuals need to get a referral before getting care from anyone except their primary care doctors.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Refugee:
Any person who is outside his or her country of nationality who is unable or unwilling to return to that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution. Persecution or the fear thereof must be based on the alien’s race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. People with no nationality must generally be outside their country of last habitual residence to qualify as a refugee. Refugees are subject to ceilings by geographic area set annually by the President in consultation with Congress and are eligible to adjust to lawful permanent resident status after one year of continuous presence in the United States.
Source: U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

Representative Payee:
A relative, friend or other interested party of someone who receives Social Security benefits appointed to handle his/her Social Security matters. Representative payees are required by law to use benefits properly. Benefits should first be used for the beneficiary’s day-to-day needs of food and shelter; then, benefits may be used for other personal needs such as clothing and other expenses and can be used to pay for medical care.
Source: Social Security Administration