Policy and Systems

Substantial Gainful Activity

To qualify for a total and permanent disability annuity, you must stop all Substantial Gainful Activity. Substantial Gainful Activity is the performance of significant duties, which are usually done for pay or profit, over a reasonable period of time. Significant duties are activities that are useful in a job, or operation of a business, and that have economic value.

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Annuity Based on Total Disability

You must file an application to receive a railroad retirement total and permanent disability annuity. Under the law, a disability annuity cannot begin earlier than the first day of the sixth full month following the month in which disability onset occurs.

You may be eligible for a tier I component based on total disability at any age if you:

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Regular Railroad Occupation

Your Regular Railroad Occupation is the one in which you worked:

in more months than you worked in any other occupation, in or outside of the railroad industry, during the last 5 years in which you were employed (the 5 years do not have to be consecutive); or,
in at least one-half of all the months worked in the last 15 consecutive years.

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Annuity Based on Occupational Disability

You may qualify for an employee occupational disability annuity if you are permanently disabled for work in your Regular Railroad Occupation and you have a Current Connection with the railroad industry. The earliest date the occupational disability can begin depends on your railroad service. You are eligible

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Full Retirement Age (FRA)

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

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Age Requirement

The age requirement for an age and service annuity depends on your years of creditable railroad service. You must file an application to receive a railroad retirement annuity. When all eligibility requirements are met, your age and service annuity can begin as explained in Chart 1.

Chart 1 - Determining Your Age and Service Annuity Beginning Date

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General Conditions Under Which a Person is Entitled to a Railroad Retirement Employee Annuity

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New Medicare Cards Are Coming

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The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015 mandates the removal of social security numbers from Medicare cards. As a result, every person with Medicare coverage will be receiving a replacement card displaying a new Medicare number that is unique to them. This change will better protect your identity. Railroad Retirement Board will mail you a new Medicare card by June of 2018.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a press release covering this initiative in greater detail (09/14/17):

Chose the following link to view a sample of the RRB Medicare Card.

In the meantime, beware of anyone who contacts you about your new Medicare card. Medicare or the RRB will never ask you for personal or private information in order for you to receive your new Medicare number and card.

Report all instances of fraud or potential fraud to 1-800-MEDICARE.

Published by: Policy and Systems | Email: webmaster@rrb.gov

Section K - Additional Information

Questions about Federal income tax information and/or how to figure taxable payments and/or questions about amounts to show on income tax returns should be referred to a local IRS office or an individual's tax preparer. Additional information is also available by visiting the IRS website at www.irs.gov.