2023 RUIA Tax Forms Available in myRRB - Read More... Search
    
      Search
  
  
  Search myRRB
 **U.S. Railroad Retirement Board**
 Our AgencyAgency OverviewOffice of the ChairmanChairmanChairman Staff DirectoryOffice of the Labor MemberLabor Member of the BoardLabor Member Staff DirectoryPre-Retirement SeminarsEducational MaterialsQuestions and AnswersOffice of the Management MemberManagement Member of the BoardManagement Member Staff DirectoryOffice of Inspector GeneralOffice of Inspector GeneralAuditInvestigationsHotline to Report Fraud, Waste and AbuseLibraryWhistleblower Protection InformationOrganization ChartBenefitsRetirementGeneral InformationDownloadable FormsmyRRBSurvivorGeneral InformationDownloadable FormsmyRRBDisabilityGeneral InformationDownloadable FormsmyRRBUnemploymentGeneral InformationDownloadable FormsmyRRBSicknessGeneral InformationDownloadable FormsmyRRBIncome TaxGeneral InformationDownloadable FormsmyRRBMedicareGeneral InformationmyRRBEn EspañolmyRRBEmployersEmployer Online ServicesERSNet LoginEFTPS.govPay.govFormsRailLaborReporting InstructionsRailLaborCreditable SicknessPublicationsEmployer Exchange NewsletterProgram and Circular LettersAdditional InformationResourcesRailroad JobsLegal InformationBoard OrdersThe Federal RegisterLegal Opinions and Board Coverage DecisionsPartition of Railroad Retirement AnnuitiesAdministrative Staff Manuals IndexPay Debts OnlineOffice of Equal OpportunityOverviewEEO PoliciesFiling A Complaint of DiscriminationNo FEAR ActFrequently Asked QuestionsRRBVision Video LibraryAppealsRailroad Retirement HandbookFOIA Reading RoomGlossary of RRB TermsFinancial & ReportingAgency ReportsInventoriesPlansReportsFinancial, Actuarial & StatisticalBudget and Financial Reports: Current and ProjectedPerformance and Accountability ReportsEarnings Limits, Tax Rates and COLAsAnnualMonthly & Quarterly RRA and RUIA DataNational Railroad Retirement Investment TrustNRRIT IntroductionBackground InformationReportsCorrespondenceNewsroomNews ReleasesMedia ContactField Office LocatorFAQ
 Notice of Decision About Your Application
 Home
          Spouse/Divorced Spouse Annuities
          After You Apply for Your Annuity
          Notice of Decision About Your Application
 Topics
    

      
              Applying For Your Annuity
          When Your Annuity Can Begin
          Reductions for Early Retirement
          Deductions For Earnings
          Reductions for Other Benefits
          Deductions for Other Federal Programs
          After You Apply for Your Annuity
                                Notice of Decision About Your Application
          How Payments are Made
          Receiving Your Payment
          Change of Address
          When Your Annuity Is Not Payable
          When Your Annuity Ends
          Records You Should Keep
          Important Notices Notice of Decision About Your Application
							 
							
							
            RB-30
      
            (4-16)
      
            When you are ready to retire, contact your RRB field office to file your spouse annuity application. Our goal is to process your application as quickly as possible. Claims for some benefits may take longer to handle than others if they are more complex, or if we have to get information from other people or organizations. If this happens, we will give you an explanation and an estimate of the time required to make a decision.

Sometimes we will not be able to make a decision on your application for benefits without some additional information from you. If so, we will contact you by telephone or mail and ask you to send us the required forms, proofs, or statements.

If you do not receive a notice that additional information is needed, you should receive the decision on your annuity application as follows.

**Advance Filing Cases**

When you file up to three months before the earliest date your spouse annuity or divorced spouse annuity can begin, you should receive your annuity award letter and first payment within 35 days of the date your annuity can begin. However, note that no payment is due until the first day of the month after the first month of annuity entitlement, as explained in the following section.

**Other Than Advance Filing Cases**

If you do not file your application in advance of the earliest date on which your annuity can begin, you should receive your annuity award letter and first payment within 65 days from the date you file your application.

**Annuity Denial**

If you cannot be paid an annuity, the RRB will send you a decision within 35 days of the beginning date you requested, if you filed in advance, or within 65 days of the date you filed, if you did not file in advance, explaining why you cannot be paid and what you can do if you disagree with the reason you cannot be paid. If you think we made the wrong decision about your benefits, you have the right to ask for a review and to appeal within the required time limit shown in the denial letter.
        ‹ After You Apply for Your Annuity | 
                      Up |
                      How Payments are Made ›To view and download PDF documents, you need the free Acrobat Reader. We recommend using the latest version. Viewers with visual disabilities can go to Adobe's Access Website for tools and information that will help make PDF files accessible.Get Adobe Acrobat Reader
To view and download PDF documents, you need the free Acrobat Reader. We recommend using the latest version. Viewers with visual disabilities can go to Adobe's Access Website for tools and information that will help make PDF files accessible.
 JobsRailroad Jobs



HotlineFraud Hotline

RSSField Office Locator
 RRB Seal

U.S. Railroad Retirement BoardWilliam O. Lipinski Federal Building844 North Rush Street
Chicago, IL 60611-1275
Toll Free: (877) 772-5772
TTY: (312) 751-4701
Directory: (312) 751-4300

Privacy PolicyPolicies & LinksSite MapContact UsRRB CareersWebsite Feedback

PlainLanguage.govData.govBenefits.govUSA.govRRB @ Data.govVote.gov

Freedom of Information ActNo FEAR Act DataOffice of Special CounselPlain Writing @ RRBOpen Gov @ RRBOffice of Inspector General
 Last updated: 05/31/2017