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. Being prepared can prevent needless delays and insure that
payments from the Board begin as soon as possible after retirement.
The following questions and answers describe this Railroad Retirement
Board application process and other related items that retiring
employees should be aware of.
How are railroad retirement annuity applications filed?
Applications are filed through the Railroad Retirement Board's
field offices. Applicants may file in person or by telephone and mail.
Those filing in person may do so at any Board office or at one of the
office's Customer OutReach Program (CORP) 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 Board's field offices
are available on the Board'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. Most Board field offices are open to the public from 9:00
a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
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(er) 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 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 Board office or on the Board's Web site.
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 Railroad Retirement Board office will explain how to get
acceptable evidence. All evidence brought or mailed to a Board office
will be handled carefully and returned promptly.
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 reduced age annuities to
those employees under full retirement age with less than 30 years of
service.
The maximum 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). 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. 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 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.
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
widower 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.
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. |