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Age Reductions For Employees Who Have Less Than 360 Months Service
"" Basic Formula
  "" Full Retirement Age for Employees Who Have Less Than 360 Months of Railroad Service
  "" Age Reductions For Employees Who Have Less Than 360 Months of Railroad Service
"" Deductions for Earnings
"" Reductions for Other Benefits
"" Reductions for Other Federal Programs
"" After You Apply for Your Annuity
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Employee Age and Service Annuities
RB-1 (07-04)
Age Reductions for Employees Who Have Less Than 360 Months Service View the RB-1 in PDF

 
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Basic Formula

Regular railroad retirement annuities are calculated under the following two-tier formula:

Tier 1 Component

The first tier is based on railroad retirement credits and any social security credits an employee has acquired. If you have at least 120 months of railroad service, or 60-119 months of railroad service with at least 60 months of railroad service after 1995, the amount of the first tier is calculated using social security formulas and age requirements. Exception: If you have at least 360 months of railroad service or are disabled and have at least 120 months of railroad service, the amount of the first tier is calculated using social security formulas and railroad retirement age and service requirements.

Tier 2 Component

The second tier is based on railroad retirement credits only, and may be compared to the retirement benefits sometimes paid to workers in other industries in addition to social security benefits.

Full Retirement Age for Employees Who Have Less Than 360 Months of Railroad Service

The term Full Retirement Age (FRA) means the age at which an employee with less than 360 months of railroad service can receive a full annuity (not reduced for early retirement).

If you have less than 360 months of railroad service, this applies to you. FRA for your Tier 1 age reduction is age 65 if you were born before January 2, 1938. The FRA for persons born after January 1, 1938, will gradually increase over a 20-year period to age 67, as illustrated in the following chart.

Determining Your Full Retirement Age
If your year of birth is: Then your Full Retirement Age is:
Before 1-2-1938 65
1-2-1938 thru 1-1-1939 65 and 2 months
1-2-1939 thru 1-1-1940 65 and 4 months
1-2-1940 thru 1-1-1941 65 and 6 months
1-2-1941 thru 1-1-1942 65 and 8 months
1-2-1942 thru 1-1-1943 65 and 10 months
1-2-1943 thru 1-1-1955 66
1-2-1955 thru 1-1-1956 66 and 2 months
1-2-1956 thru 1-1-1957 66 and 4 months
1-2-1957 thru 1-1-1958 66 and 6 months
1-2-1958 thru 1-1-1959 66 and 8 months
1-2-1959 thru 1-1-1960 66 and 10 months
1-2-1960 and later 67

(FRA also affects Tier 1 component work deductions due to earnings, regardless of your total years of railroad service.)

Age Reductions For Employees Who Have Less Than 360 Months of Railroad Service

Tier 1 Component Age Reduction

Your employee annuity Tier 1 component age reduction depends on your total years of railroad service.

  • You have 60-119 Months of Railroad Service with at Least 60 Months of Railroad Service After 1995 - Your Tier 1 is reduced by 1/180 for the first 36 months you are under FRA and by 1/240 for each additional month you are under FRA on your RRA annuity beginning date (ABD), or if earlier, your social security benefit date of entitlement.
     
  • You have 120-359 Months of Railroad Service - Your Tier 1 is reduced by 1/180 for the first 36 months you are under FRA and by 1/240 for each additional month you are under FRA on your annuity beginning date.

Tier 2 Component Age Reduction

Your employee annuity Tier 2 component age reduction depends on whether or not you have railroad service before August 12, 1983.

  • You Began Your Railroad Service Before August 12, 1983 - Your Tier 2 is reduced by 1/180 for each month you are under age 65 on your annuity beginning date.
     
  • You Began Your Railroad Service After August 11, 1983 - Your Tier 2 is reduced by 1/180 for each of the first 36 months you are under FRA and 1/240 for each additional month you are under FRA on your annuity beginning date.

Note: If you receive a disability annuity based on 60-119 months of railroad service with at least 60 months of railroad service after 1995, your Tier 2 component is not payable until the first full month you are age 62. Then it will be reduced in the same manner as a Tier 2 component for an age and service employee.


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Date posted: 03/01/2006
Date updated: 02/24/2006