Prospective retirees should be aware of what steps to take and what documents are required by the Railroad Retirement Board when applying for retirement benefits, so that they can avoid delays and begin receiving payments from the Board as soon as possible after their retirement date. The following questions and answers describe this application process and will be of particular interest to those retiring in the near future.

How are Railroad Retirement annuity applications filed?

Applications are filed through the Railroad Retirement Board's field offices. Applicants may file in person, at a Board office, or with a Board representative at a regularly scheduled service location, or they may file their application by telephone and mail. Persons 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.

To locate the nearest Board field office, applicants should look in the telephone directory under "United States Government," or check with their local union official or rail employer, post office, or Federal Information Center. Most Board field offices are open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Under the Board's Customer Service Plan, those who telephone the Board will reach it on the first try, and those visiting a Board office will be helped within 5 minutes of their appointment. Those who do not have an appointment will not have to wait more than 30 minutes, and if an applicant cannot come to a Board office, a Board representative may be able to visit him or her at home or at one of the Board's regularly scheduled service locations.

Can an application be filed prior to a person's actual retirement date?

The Board accepts annuity applications up to three months in advance of an annuity beginning date, which allows the Board to complete the processing of most new claims by a person's retirement date. However, applications for employee disability annuities cannot be filed until an employee is no longer in compensated railroad service. Compensated service includes the receipt of pay for time lost, some wage continuation payments, or any other employer compensation precluding the payment of Railroad Retirement benefits.

To expedite the filing process, applicants should contact the Board 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 a Board representative who will provide an annuity estimate, explain a retiree's benefit rights and responsibilities, and answer related questions.

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 applying for a Railroad Retirement annuity must furnish proof of marriage to the employee. A divorced spouse must furnish proof of marriage and 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 for Direct Deposit.

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 Board office.

Form G-844 provides specific information for those filing for a disability annuity about the disability process. This form is also available free of charge at any Board office.

What is the retroactivity of a Railroad Retirement application?

The retroactivity of a Railroad Retirement annuity application is limited to one year for disability annuities and six months for full age annuities. Reduced age annuities to those ages 60-61 with 30 years of service and their spouses can also have up to six months' retroactivity; there is no retroactivity for other reduced age annuities. Also, an employee and spouse must be age 60 or 62 for a full month before a reduced age annuity can be paid; and a spouse must be age 60 for a full month before an unreduced annuity can be paid.

Retroactivity for widow(er)s ages 60-61 is six 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.

Are retiring railroad employees required to relinquish their rights to their railroad job?

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, currently age 65. However, in order for a supplemental annuity to be paid by the Board, 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 a railroad employer.

Railroad Retirement annuitants may work in nonrailroad employment, but benefits may be reduced if a beneficiary under age 70 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.

How soon after filing can an applicant expect payment?

Under the Board's Customer Service Plan, persons who filed for their Railroad Retirement employee or spouse annuity in advance will receive their first payment, or a decision, within 35 days of the beginning date of their annuity. Persons who did not file in advance will receive their first payment, or a decision, within 65 days of the date they filed their application. Those who filed for a Railroad Retirement survivor annuity or lump-sum benefit will receive their first payment, or a decision, within 65 days of the date they filed their application, or became entitled to benefits, if later. Widows or widow(er)s who are already receiving a spouse annuity will receive their first payment, or a decision, within 35 days of the date the Board receives notice of the employee's death.

For disability annuities, no payment can be made until all medical evidence has been evaluated. Consequently, an annuity based on disability takes longer to process than an annuity based on age and service. And, a waiting period of five months is required after the onset of disability before disability annuity payments can begin. In any case, persons who filed for a Railroad Retirement disability annuity will receive a decision on their claim within 105 days from the date they filed their application. If they are entitled to disability benefits, they will receive their first payment within 25 days of the date of that decision, or earliest payment date, whichever is later.

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 Board will provide an explanation and an estimate of the time required to make a decision.