Student Survivor Annuity

Student annuities are payable when the students, or their representatives, file survivor annuity applications and the students meet the requirements in Part I.

Forms Needed to Qualify for a Student Survivor Annuity

The following are available at the RRB field office nearest you to develop the information needed for the student annuity:

• An Application for Child's Annuity obtains information concerning a student’s relationship to the employee. This form can be filed through the RRB field office on Application Express (APPLE); and,
• Form G-315 Student Questionnaire is required to obtain the dates of school attendance and verification of the school attendance from the school official.

Independent Study and Home Schooling

If a student is enrolled at an educational institution for less than 20 hours per week, but participates in the school's independent study program, you need to provide documentation from the school recognizing and providing credits for the independent study. The RRB requires the documentation listed in Part I for home schooling cases.

One Application Concept for a Survivor Annuity

Benefits for minor children or students in the retirement Special Guaranty computation do not convert to survivor annuities upon the death of the employee. A survivor annuity application for a child’s annuity is required.

Otherwise, an application for children's annuities filed by, or on behalf of, minor children protect their rights to student annuities when they attain age 18, provided there is no break in entitlement between the month they attain age 18 and the month they become entitled as full-time students. A new application for a child’s annuity is not needed.

Children who are elementary or high school students at educational institutions, or in home schooling, in the month they attain age 18, need only submit Form G-315 Student Questionnaire to furnish the RRB with verification of their full-time attendance in order to receive student benefits at age 18. The RRB also requires the documentation listed in Part I for home schooling cases.

How a Student Survivor Annuity is Paid

When possible, the student annuity payments are deposited directly into the annuitant's checking or savings account at a financial institution. Therefore, bring one of the student's checks with you when you file for benefits. This will allow the field office representative to enter the information in our payment system and tell the student when the direct deposit will take effect.

After a student application is processed, the first student payment will include all back payments that are due. This payment may be received at any time during the month. Payments issued after the first payment will be paid on the first business day of each month. The payment made at the beginning of the month actually represents the annuity due for the previous month.