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Policy and Systems

 

 

 
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Office Email
webmaster@rrb.gov

Medicare Card Spanish

Medicare Card Spanish

 

  • Read more about Medicare Card Spanish

Surcharge in RUIA Contribution Rate

Surcharge in RUIA Contribution Rate

 

  • Read more about Surcharge in RUIA Contribution Rate

When a Spouse Annuity Ends

When a Spouse Annuity Ends

 

A spouse annuity ends the month before the month in which:

  • Read more about When a Spouse Annuity Ends

When a Spouse Annuity is not Payable

When a Spouse Annuity is not Payable

 

A spouse annuity is not payable for any month in which:

  • the employee's annuity is not payable; or,
  • you work for a railroad employer; or,
  • you become entitled to a railroad retirement annuity based on your own earnings record that exceeds the amount of your spouse annuity on a different earnings record and neither earnings record includes railroad service before 1975; or,
  • you become entitled to a railroad retirement survivor annuity based on a different earnings record that exceeds the spouse annuity rate.
  • Read more about When a Spouse Annuity is not Payable

Tier II Deductions for Last Pre-Retirement Nonrailroad Earnings

Tier II Deductions for Last Pre-Retirement Nonrailroad Earnings

 

Your Last Pre-Retirement Nonrailroad Employer is defined as any nonrailroad individual, company or institution for whom you are working on the date your spouse annuity begins or for whom you stopped working in order to receive a spouse annuity. ( For more information, see Form G-177L General Information about Continuing in or Returning to Nonrailroad Employment after Retirement under the Railroad Retirement Act.)

  • Read more about Tier II Deductions for Last Pre-Retirement Nonrailroad Earnings

5-Year Vesting Cases

5-Year Vesting Cases

 

If the employee's annuity is based on 60-119 months of railroad service with at least 60 months of railroad service after 1995 (5-year vesting case), you qualify for a spouse annuity tier I component only when the employee qualifies for a tier I component. Refer to Form G-177 General Conditions Under Which a Person is Entitled to a Railroad Retirement Employee Annuity for further information about the employee's requirement for an SSA Insured Status for a tier I component.

  • Read more about 5-Year Vesting Cases

Tier I Deductions for Nonrailroad Earnings

Tier I Deductions for Nonrailroad Earnings

 

Your tier I component is not reduced for your nonrailroad earnings if you are receiving social security benefits.

Otherwise, the Annual Earnings Exempt Amount is the amount of nonrailroad earnings you can have in a calendar year without losing part of your tier I component. Use Chart 3 to determine your Full Retirement Age. Then refer to Chart 4 below and Form G-77a,  How Work Affects Your Railroad Retirement Annuities.

  • Read more about Tier I Deductions for Nonrailroad Earnings

Definition of Child-in-Care

Definition of Child-in-Care

 

You may qualify for a spouse annuity at any age, based on a child of the employee in care. The employee must have attained age 62 (or age 60 with 30 years of service) to qualify the spouse for this annuity.  The child must be either:

  • Read more about Definition of Child-in-Care

Marriage Requirements

Marriage Requirements

 

In order to qualify for a spouse annuity, you must be the legal spouse of the railroad employee and you must have been legally married to the employee for at least one year immediately prior to filing your spouse annuity application. The one-year marriage requirement is waived if any of the following conditions exist:
 

  • Read more about Marriage Requirements

Full Retirement Age for Annuities Based on Less Than 30 Years

Full Retirement Age for Annuities Based on Less Than 30 Years

 

The term Full Retirement Age means the age at which the spouse of an employee with less than 30 years of railroad service can receive a full annuity (not reduced for early retirement).

  • Read more about Full Retirement Age for Annuities Based on Less Than 30 Years

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U.S. Railroad Retirement Board
William O. Lipinski Federal Building
844 North Rush Street
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