This chapter describes the different events that will affect your disability benefits. You should be aware of these different events and notify us immediately if any of them apply to you.
The events you should report can affect all of the following:
- The amount of your monthly payment.
- The total amount which can be paid to you during the year.
- Whether you can continue to be paid at all.
- Whether your period of disability and/or early Medicare coverage can continue.
Keep this booklet handy and refer to this part occasionally to see if you need to report any event to the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB).
The following events must be promptly reported to the RRB:
- If you perform any work, including self-employment, regardless how much you earn,
- If your condition improves, or your doctor tells you that you are able to work,
- If you begin to receive worker's compensation payments or any other public benefit based on disability, or if the amount of these payments change,
- If you are convicted due to a criminal offense.
These events must be reported in addition to any other events you must report described in booklet RB-1, Employee Annuity.
In any situation, the best rule of thumb is "If in doubt - report". The field office can advise how a particular event would affect benefits, and in many cases, they can handle it at the field office.