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6.4.1 When To Reinstate Payments

The decision to reinstate payments is often based on the annuitant's own statement. 

Accept the annuitant's statement and reinstate payments subject to later confirmation 

unless there is sufficient reason to doubt his statement.

A. Suspended Payments - Reinstate suspended payments when:

• An overpayment is recovered or waived;

• An employee or spouse annuitant ceases railroad service;

• A disabled employee or survivor annuitant's earnings no longer require work 

deductions;

• An investigation which caused suspension is completed;

• A new payee is selected in foreign cases;

• A SMI premium is deducted from the accrual; or

• The reason for suspension no longer exists.

B. Terminated Payments - Reinstate terminated payments when:

• The marriage which caused termination was annulled;

• The marriage which caused termination was void;

• The adoption which caused termination was revoked; or

• There was an erroneous report of death.

6.4.2 Record Of Previous Payments

Construct a record of returned checks and previous payments from the claim file, 

microfilm record of checks, and the various adjustment listings.

Assume that payments were made for all months that the annuity was in force and that 

all lump-sum payments previously certified were made.

Assume that a check was returned or withheld if the claim file contains:

• A G-96 dated before the cut-off date or is stamped "Check dated cancelled."

• A G-695 (provided the claim file does not contain a record of rejection),
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• A G-696 showing the check was cancelled or withheld,

• A photostatic copy of the check marked "cancelled" or "not negotiable,"

• 'Green Sheets' as described below:

• Notice of Cancelled Payment

• Limited Payability Cancellation Notice

• Reclamation Credit Notice

• Non-Receipt Credit Notice

• A computer-generated code 97 referral.

• Xerox copy of an SF-1184e, Unavailable check cancellation with a check mark 

beside, "Check NOT paid ..... etc."

If the annuity payments were being sent Direct Deposit prior to the termination, the 

processing of an initial, reinstatement or reinstatement/recert award will delete the 

Direct Deposit information from the checkwriting master record.

NOTE: For RR-only or SS-only payments, the Direct Deposit information will always be 

deleted. For combined RR/SS payments, use the following chart to determine whether 

the Direct Deposit will be deleted:

STATUS DELETE DIRECT DEPOSIT?

RR SS

TERM N/A YES

N/A TERM YES

TERM TERM YES

TERM SUSP NO

SUSP TERM NO

TERM CPS NO

CPS TERM NO
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The accrual will be mailed to the annuitant's home address. The Direct Deposit 

information will also be deleted from the DATA-Q display when the award is processed.

6.4.3 Award Forms

When reinstating an annuity, prepare the appropriate award forms:

• Regular employee annuity, see RCM 8.6

• Supplemental annuity, see RCM 8.7

• Spouse annuity, see RCM 8.8

• Survivor insurance annuity, see RCM 8.9

6.4.4 Award Notices

When reinstating an annuity, use the Automated Award Letters Annuitants (ALTA) 

System to produce the award letter.

Give the payee a complete explanation about any recovery or waiver of an erroneous 

payment.

Send the field office servicing the area in which the annuitant lives a copy of the 

adjustment award letter.

6.4.5 Reinstatement After Mechanical Adjustments

A mechanical suspension - reinstatement action (e.g., SMI adjustments) will cause a 

slight delay in the issuance of the adjusted benefit.

If the adjustment involves a combined payment, the payment will be split into the 

separate components and as many as three separate payments may be issued in the 

month of adjustment. Only the components actually involved in the adjustment will be 

delayed (i.e., either the RR REG and SUP component(s) or the SS component.

If the payment is normally issued under the direct deposit program, the benefit being 

adjusted will also be forwarded to the financial organization.

6.4.11 Payments Suspended Because Of An Overpayment

Reinstate payments if:

• The annuitant refunds the overpayment;

• The annuitant accepts an actuarial adjustment;
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• Recovery of an overpayment is waived;

• It is determined that payment thought to be erroneous were not erroneous;

• The amount of the annuities withheld exceeds the overpayment; or

• The overpayment is recovered by any combination of the above methods.

6.4.16 Reinstatement After Return To Service

Situation

An employee who returns to railroad service after the ABD has his annuity suspended, 

not terminated. When he stops working for the railroad, the annuity is payable and 

reinstated the month after his date last worked.

Age and Service Annuitant

If the employee is an age and service annuitant, he must relinquish his rights before 

reinstatement.

Disability Annuitant

If the employee is a disability annuitant, he does not have to relinquish his rights.

However, the Disability Benefits Division must reconcile a return to work with the 

disability rating. The file should have been sent to DBD for the reconciliation at the time 

the benefits were suspended. Do not reinstate benefits until DBD has made a disability 

determination on the case.

Tier 1/OM

The additional earnings may be used to increase tier 1. However, the increase cannot 

be paid until January of the following year. 

Delayed retirement credits (DRCs) are applicable for those months where the employee 

annuity is withheld between the employee’s FRA/age 65 and age 70. DRCs earned in 

years prior to age 70 are payable effective January of the following year. DRCs earned 

in the year the employee attains age 70 are payable effective with the month the 

employee attains age 70. 

Tier 2

The additional service months and earnings acquired in railroad service will be used to 

increase the tier 2. The increase is due the month of reinstatement. 

Reinstating Benefits
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When you are informed that an employee who had returned to railroad service is no 

longer working, take the following steps:

1. Reinstate the annuitant at the latest rate shown on PREH, updated for any 

intervening COLs.

EXAMPLE: The employee was suspended for return to service in 08-1999. He 

tells his local field office that his last day of work was 12-27-2000. His benefits 

can be reinstated effective 01-2001. Update the rates shown on PREH for the 

12-1999 and 12-2000 COLs and pay this rate effective 01-2001.

2. If the TEMP-RT-FLG code of 2 is present on PREH for the suspension months, 

change the Annuity Not Payable code to zero (0) on ROC effective with the 

reinstatement date.

3. If the TEMP-RT-FLG code of 2 is not entered on PREH for the period of railroad 

service, summarize the suspension period on ROC with an Annuity Not Payable 

code of 2.

EXAMPLE: In the case above, you would take the following actions to make 

sure PREH is correctly coded for the suspension period.

• Check PREH screen 3235, the TEMP-RT-FLG field, for the period 08-1999 

through 12-2000.

• If the code of 2 is not shown, include the suspension period on 

ROC.Calculate the tiers from 08-1999 through 12-2000. Include the COLs.

• On PF 19, enter the Annuity Not Payable code of 2 for 12-2000,12-1999, and 

08-1999.

• Enter the date of 01-2001. The 12-2000 rates will automatically appear. 

Change the Annuity Not Payable code to zero(0).

4. Set a tickler for June 1 of the year following reinstatement. Earnings for the 

previous year should be posted by that time.

NOTE: The BUSI clearance screen (PF17) is required when reinstating an EE 

annuity suspended for return to RR employment.

Legal Opinion L-95-20

Legal Opinion L-95-20 affirms that all COLs that accrue during the suspension period 

are due to the annuitant with the reinstatement. Therefore, the COL rates that are 

calculated by ROC should be paid to the annuitant.

When the tickler matures
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After the earnings have been posted to EDM, send an updated EDM screen showing 

the earnings to CCU. 

If the earnings are high enough, have CCU calculate a new PIA for January of the 

following year. 

Have CCU calculate a new AMC for any reinstatement dates.

When CCU returns the case with the new PIA and/or AMC(s), use ROC to calculate the 

new tier 1 and tier 2.

Single Recalculation Date for tier 2

When the case has a single recalculation of the AMC, enter this information on PF 10:

• Enter the new number of total months.

• Enter the new AMC amount.

• Use the reinstatement date as the TIER 2 CALC EFF DATE.

ROC will automatically calculate the reinstatement rate, and the COL rates. Process the 

rest of the case as usual.

Multiple Recalculation Dates

If the case has several recalculation dates because the employee went in and out of 

railroad service more than once, you will have to take several steps on ROC.

1. On PF 10, enter the total months, the AMC, and the TIER 2 CALC EFF DATE for 

the first recalculation date. Go to PF 15 and write down the net tier 2 effective 

with the recalculation date, and the COL rates until the next recalculation date.

2. Repeat these steps for each recalculation until you reach the LAST recalculation 

date. After you have entered the information for the last recalculation, go to PF 

19.

3. On PF 19, insert the previous dates and calculated tier rates. Make sure you 

enter the appropriate Annuity Not Payable Code of 2 or zero (0) for each date

break. You will be able to compute underpayments/overpayments as usual. 

4. Send a 59R to Statistical Services. Tell them the EE-SPEC-CALC-CD on the 

3300 screen of PREH should be coded ‘1’ to show that RR service after the ABD 

is included in the calculation.

74 Act Cases

If you have a 74 Act return to service case, refer it to the RBD operations analyst.
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6.4.17 When A Disabled Employee Annuitant Stops Working

Before reinstating a disability annuity, forward the claim folder to DPS for reconciliation 

of work with the employee's disability, if it has not previously been reconciled.

6.4.18 Payments Suspended

Spouse Annuitant Returned To Service

When a spouse indicates that (s)he ceased railroad service and relinquished her rights, 

reinstate her annuity. Request the district office to secure confirmation of the DLW and 

R of R. The D/O will obtain Form G-88 from the spouse and forward it to headquarters 

to verify the DLW and R of R.

Survivor Annuitant Returned To Service

When a survivor annuitant indicates that (s)he ceased railroad service, reinstate the 

annuity. If the case has been in suspense for more than 6 months, verify the 

annuitant’s address before reinstating the annuity.

For Investigation

Reinstate payments as soon as the investigation is completed if reinstatement is in 

order. This includes code 98 actions that require manual reinstatement.

When manual reinstatement of a code 98 action is deemed necessary, payment records 

will forward the case to an adjudication examiner with a G-696 stamped "Reinstate all 

payments due including the returned check". Prepare the award form in the usual 

manner for reinstatement and route the folder to (1) "Vouchering (2) PR code 98."

The award action will void the 98 code, produce a message indicating the amount that 

should have been paid on the reinstatement, and authorize issuance of a check. 

Payment records will hold the folder until the computer message is received from the 

benefit payment group.

NOTE: SMI premiums in code 98 (or 97) cases are only transferred to the SMI account 

for months in which a check was issued. When making a manual reinstatement, be 

sure to show in the Deduction section, "SMI premiums previously transferred" followed 

by the premium amount for months in which a check was issued and returned. Then 

deduct premiums for other withheld months in which a check was issued and returned. 

Then deduct premiums for other withheld months in the SMI premium block of the 

award form.
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Entitlement To Other Benefits

A. Basic Rate - Pay the annuity at the basic rate (i.e., the rate for the individual 

based on the 1966 Railroad Retirement Act amendment formula and a spouse 

annuity on the basis of 1/2 of the employee's basic rate) if:

1. The monthly rate of the SS benefit the annuitant has applied for is not 

known; or

2. The monthly rate of the unreduced SS benefit the annuitant is eligible for 

is not known; or

3. The monthly rate of the supplemental annuity the employee is entitled to is 

not known.

B. Increased Rate - Pay the annuity at the rate as increased under the O/M or the 

1968 and 1970 RR Act amendments and reduced for SS benefit entitlement if:

1. The effective date and monthly rate of the SS benefit can be determined 

from data in the claim folder furnished by SSA; or

2. The effective date and monthly rate of the SS benefit can be determined 

from information furnished by the D/O which is based on documentary 

evidence from SSA; or

3. The monthly rate of the supplemental annuity the employee is entitled to is 

known. 

Change Of Payee

Claims examiners in RM and SM reinstate payments to the new payee when payments 

were suspended because of a change of payee. If payments were under direct deposit 

for the former payee, delete direct deposit. If the new payee wants payments made 

under direct deposit, a new Form SF-1199A must be completed jointly by the payee and 

financial institution.

See RCM 5.10 when the selection or cancellation of the selection of a representative 

payee is involved.

NOTE: The initial adjudication units handle cases in which a partial award has been 

made and the final certification is pending.

6.4.37 Child's Payments Suspended When Mother Died

When a mother receiving an annuity for herself and child(ren) or for child(ren) alone 

dies, secure her insured status from SSA if unknown.
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A. Mother Insured Under the SS Act - If the mother was insured under the SS Act:

1. Reinstate payments to the new payee at the RR basic rate;

2. Request SS benefit data;

3. Tell the new payee, in the award letter, to file at SSA if he has not already 

done so; and then

4. When SS benefit data is received, recertify the annuity to the rate as 

increased under the O/M or the RR Act formula and reduce for SS 

entitlement.

B. Mother Not Insured Under the SS Act - If the mother was not insured under the 

SS Act, reinstate payments to the new payee at the rate as increased under the 

O/M or the RR Act formula, whichever is higher.

6.4.38 When Outstanding Checks Are In The Possession Of A Person 

Other Than The Proper Payee

When outstanding checks are in the possession of a person other than the proper 

payee, advice that person he cannot legally cash the checks and ask him to return them 

or make refund.

Reinstate payments to the new payee beginning with the month payment was 

suspended. When the outstanding checks or refund are received, pay the amount due 

to the proper payee.

6.4.41 Payments Adjusted Mechanically To Start SMI Premium 

Deductions

Annuities are mechanically adjusted to deduct SMI premiums. Manual awards cannot 

initiate recurring SMI premium deductions. MIRTEL initiates, reinstates or changes SMI 

premium deductions. MIRTEL must be furnished the most current SMI enrollment 

and/or premium rate information.

A. Recertification Award - An adjustment to deduct a single month's premium is 

processed as a recertification award. This includes both cases when the 

deductions are started timely and when the deductions exceed the mechanical 

limit (i.e., more than half of the annuity or more than six months plus the current 

month's premiums) so a one month adjustment is made and the arrearage must 

be recovered manually.

B. Reinstatement Awards - When an adjustment is made for multiple months, 

MIRTEL suspends and then reinstates the annuity, deducting the past due 

premiums from the accrual. See RCM 3.7.17 for more information.
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6.4.42 Payments Adjusted To Stop SMI Premium Deductions

A. Mechanical Award - MIRTEL adjusts the annuity to stop SMI premium deductions 

whenever the SMI option in MIRTEL is 3, 4, 6 or8.

1. State Buy-In Accretion - When a State Buy-In accretion notice is received, 

MIRTEL adjusts the annuity to remove the deductions, refunds any 

premiums deducted since the effective date of the buy-in coverage, and 

prints an RL-119d for the annuitant and G-96d for the claim folder.

2. Other Cases - When the MIRTEL SMI option is a termination or refusal (3, 

4 or 6), MIRTEL adjusts the annuity to stop premium deductions and 

makes any necessary refund, up to 9 months of premiums. If MIRTEL has 

a SMI option of 2, no response, it prints out a referral.

B. Manual Award - Most SMI adjustments are processed mechanically, in special 

cases, it is possible to suspend the annuity to stop SMI premium deductions. In 

addition to the G-96 and award action, a G-810 must be prepared to correct 

MIRTEL. If the SMI option in MIRTEL remains 1 or 5, deductions will be 

resumed mechanically.

6.4.43 Payments Adjusted To Change The SMI Premium Rate

As part of the monthly processing, MIRTEL information is compared to CHICO. If there 

is a discrepancy in the SMI premium rate, MIRTEL takes action to adjust the SMI 

premium deduction and prints out a referral to check for a possible refund or arrearage 

due. If the rate on MIRTEL is incorrect, a G-810 activity code 17 must be submitted.

6.4.44 Manual Action To Recover A SMI Arrearage

As noted in sections 6.4.41 and 6.4.43, it is sometimes necessary to recover SMI 

premiums for a prior limited period (arrearage). This may be full month premiums or the 

difference between the premium amount collected and what should have been 

collected.

A. SMI Deductions in Force - When SMI premiums are currently being deducted 

from the annuity or benefit, action must be taken to insure that deductions 

continue or resume properly.

1. RR annuity or SS benefit only - If only one benefit or annuity is being paid, 

take the following actions:

• suspend the annuity or benefit; and

• reinstate, deducting the SMI arrearage in the SMI premium box in the 

accrued deduction portion of the award form; and
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• deduct SMI premiums from the suspension month through the voucher 

month; and

• prepare a G-810 activity code 20 to change the paid thru date in 

MIRTEL.

2. RR annuity and SS benefit in force and SMI premium deductions can 

"float" - Take the following actions regardless of where SMI premium 

deductions are being made:

• suspend the annuity or benefits; and

NOTE: It is generally better to suspend the annuity or benefit that does 

not have the recurring SMI premium deduction. This will prevent the SMI 

deduction from "floating", eliminating MIRTEL mechanical adjustments to 

the monthly payment.

• reinstate, deducting the SMI arrearage in the SMI premium box in the 

accrued deduction portion of the award form.

DO NOT PREPARE A G-810.

3. RR annuity and SS benefit but SMI premium deductions cannot "float" - If 

the SMI premium deduction cannot "float" either because the other benefit 

is too small or in suspense, handle as explained in section A 1.

B. SMI Deductions Not in Force - When SMI premium deductions are not currently 

being made because of a SMI option other than 1 or 5 on MOLI:

• suspend the annuity or benefit; and

NOTE: It is generally better to suspend the annuity or benefit that does not have 

the SMI code. This will eliminate MIRTEL activity to "float" the SMIB option code.

• reinstate, deducting the SMI arrearage in the SMI premium box in the accrued

deduction portion of the award form.

DO NOT PREPARE A G-810.

6.4.46 Erroneous Report of Death

An erroneous report of death occurs when an annuitant’s benefit is terminated for death, 

or a death termination transaction is pending on the annuitant’s record, but the 

annuitant is not deceased. The erroneous report may be the result of the annuitant’s 

annuity payment being returned by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) or his or her 

financial institution (FI), a PAM termination transaction from SSA, or administrative 

error; e.g. wrong annuitant was terminated.
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NOTE: An erroneous report of death does not include a “wrong date of death.” A 

wrong date of death occurs when the annuitant died, but the reported month, day, 

and/or year of death is earlier or later than the actual month and/or year of death. See 

RCM 6.6.141

IMPORTANT: The RRB receives death reports from SSA and CMS computer matching 

processes. These reports are investigated by the Death Match Section (DMS) in 

Program Evaluation and Management Services – Program Evaluation SectionUI/SI/DIB/FLD (PEMS-PES-UI/SI/DIB/FLD). If the following message appears in the 

remarks section of the APPLE Notice of Death screen:

“SSA/CMS DEATH MATCH TERM, NOTIFY DMS

IF ERRONEOUS REPORT OF DEATH RECEIVED”

the erroneous death report must be reconciled prior to any reinstatement action, contact 

the PES Supervisor. 

A. Death Terminations Entered on APPLE

Death terminations that are entered on the APPLE system are processed nightly. When 

an error is discovered, promptly determine what corrective actions are necessary. In 

some cases, the APPLE First Notice of Death (FNOD) and FAST-S/T transactions can 

be deleted; avoiding the need to reinstate the annuity. In other cases, the annuity will 

be terminated and must be manually reinstated.

• Error discovered before APPLE and FAST-S/T processing

If the error is discovered on the same day as the initial entry, but before nightly 

processing has occurred, the FNOD transaction can be deleted. The deletion on 

APPLE will also delete the pending transaction on FAST-S/T. These actions will 

prevent the annuity from being terminated and a Death Notification Entry (DNE) from 

being released to the FI. Refer to FOM1 – 1581.25.4 for instructions on deleting an 

APPLE FNOD record.

• Error discovered after APPLE processing but before FAST-S/T processing

If the error is discovered after nightly processing has occurred, and the termination 

action is still pending on FAST-S/T, the pending transaction can be deleted from 

FAST-S/T (see RCM 9.7.25). The annuity status on APPLE must be corrected from 

FNOD to ERRDTH (erroneous death). This action will prevent the annuity from 

being terminated.

Additionally, the annuity status on APPLE must be corrected from FNOD to 

ERRDTH (erroneous death). Indicate in the remarks section of the Notice of Death 

screen that the death report was erroneous, i.e. “Date of death of 01-02-00 is 

erroneous. Annuitant is alive”. Refer to the APPLE Training Package for 

instructions on correcting an APPLE FNOD record. 
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NOTE: If benefits are paid by EFT, a DNE will be released to the FI. The FI’s 

Automated Clearing House (ACH) department must be notified that the DNE was 

released to them in error. The FI must be instructed not to return any payments and 

to remove any death alert indicators from their records.

• Error discovered after APPLE and FAST-S/T processing

If the error is discovered after nightly processing has occurred and the FAST-S/T 

transaction has also processed, the annuity will be terminated and must be manually 

reinstated. Also, the annuity status on APPLE must be corrected from FNOD to 

ERRDTH (refer to FOM1 – 1581.25.4 for instructions on correcting an APPLE FNOD 

record). The remarks section of the Notice of Death screen must indicate that the 

death report was erroneous, i.e. “Date of death of 01-02-00 is erroneous. Annuitant 

is alive”.

NOTE: If benefits are paid by EFT, a DNE will be released to the FI. The FI’s ACH 

department must be notified that the DNE was released to them in error. The FI 

must be instructed not to return any payments and to remove any death alert 

indicators from their records.

Additionally, the RRB records must be corrected. Sections D and E below describe 

the actions that are required and who is responsible for taking the actions.

B. Death Terminations Because of Returned Payments or PAM Transactions

If the source of the erroneous report of death is a returned payment or PAM transaction 

activity, there is nothing to prevent the annuity from being terminated, even if the activity 

is waiting to be processed. The annuity must be reinstated and the RRB records must 

be corrected. Sections D and E below describe the actions that are required and who is 

responsible for taking these actions.

NOTE: The RRB will not release a DNE to the FI when the source of the erroneous 

report of death is a returned payment or PAM transactions. However, it is possible for 

the FI to have received a DNE from another government agency. If the annuitant’s 

benefits were paid by EFT, it is recommended that the FI be notified that the annuitant 

is not deceased.

C. Annuitant Receiving SS Benefit Paid by RRB

The RRB does not have the authority to adjudicate social security (SS) benefits certified 

to the agency for payment without the prior approval of SSA. If the annuitant is 

receiving a SS benefit paid by the RRB, the terminated SS benefit cannot be reinstated 

unless approval is first received from SSA. Use Form RR-25 to refer the case to SSA. 

Provide a detailed explanation as to how the erroneous report of death occurred and 

summarize the facts uses to support reinstating the benefits. The Form RR-25 must be 

signed by the unit manager. Be sure to include any supporting documentation that may 

have been received from the field office, FI, USPS, nursing home, etc.
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EXCEPTION: RRB can reinstate the SS benefit if any of the conditions listed below are 

met and documented, and the RRB did not receive a PAM termination transaction from 

SSA. 

• The erroneous report of death was due to administrative error, i.e. wrong payee 

terminated. A written explanation from the person who terminated the annuity is 

required. The error can be documented in the priority e-mail to RBD or SBD.

• The FI or USPS returned a payment in error and furnished the RRB with a signed 

statement attesting the error. The statement can be received by fax.

• A second payment was returned for death, based on the first erroneous report of 

death, after the benefit was reinstated.

• A face-to-face interview was conducted with the annuitant in question by an official 

representative of the RRB, e.g. contact representative. Documentation must be a 

written statement by the interviewer, signed by the supervising manager. The 

documentation can be faxed to RBD or SBD to the attention of the customer service 

group.

NOTE: If a PAM termination transaction was received, the annuitant must also contact 

the local SSA office in person. Additionally, use Form RR-25 to refer the case to SSA. 

This will help to expedite reinstatement of the SS benefit. Include any documentation 

that will support reinstating the benefit. SSA will advise when benefits can be 

reinstated. 

D. Actions by the Field Offices

Field offices report erroneous reports of death to either the retirement or survivor 

customer service group in the Office of Programs-Operations. In retirement cases, a 

“high priority” e-mail is sent to the Retirement Benefits Division (RBD) and in survivor 

cases, a “high priority” e-mail is sent to the Survivor Benefits Division (SBD). 

The field office also takes the following actions:

• Deletes any pending APPLE and/or FAST-S/T transaction.

• Corrects the annuity status in APPLE to ERRDTH and indicates in the remarks 

section that the death entry was in error; i.e., “Date of Death of 01-01-00 is 

erroneous. Annuitant is alive”.

• If benefits are paid by EFT, telephones the FI’s ACH department to inform them of 

the erroneous death report. The telephone number can be found in the on-line 

Financial Organization Master File (FOMF) on the RRAPID menu. The field office 

will advise the FI that a DNE was released in error and that the annuitant is not 

deceased, and instruct the financial institution to remove any death alert indicators 

from their records. 
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• Releases Form RL-380F, State Verification of Medicare Buy-In, if Medicare is 

involved and premiums are paid through State Buy-In.

• Secures the supporting documentation when the erroneous report of death was due 

to administrative or a returned payment and the annuitant is receiving a SS benefit 

paid by the RRB. The documentation must be received by the customer service 

representative before the SS benefit can be reinstated. Statements received from 

the FI and USPS should be to be faxed to RBD or SBD to the attention of the 

customer service group.

NOTE: If the erroneous report of death is received directly at headquarters, it is to be 

referred to the retirement or survivor customer service group in RBD or SBD, 

respectively. The customer service representative will take the actions described 

above, i.e. delete any pending FAST-S/T transaction, correct the annuity status in 

APPLE, notify the FI of the erroneous DNE report, and when applicable, secure the 

necessary documentation for reinstating the annuitant’s social security benefit. If 

Medicare is involved and premiums are being paid through State Buy-In, the customer 

service representative will advise the Medicare Section, using Form G-217, that Form 

RL-380F must be released.

E. Actions by the Customer Service Representatives

The customer service representatives set the case up for reinstatement of the annuity 

by the close-of-business the day following the receipt of the e-mail notice of the 

erroneous report of death. .

The customer service representatives are also responsible for correcting RRB records 

(see section F below), reinstating Direct Deposit information, if applicable, referring the 

case to SSA if applicable, and notifying the payee that the annuity was suspended in 

error. The reinstatement award letter is sufficient for notifying the payee. However, do 

not refer to the erroneous report of death. 

F. Correcting RRB Records

Use Forms G-205, G-217, and PC-G-607 to correct RRB records and Form RL-73 to 

notify the last RR employer.

1. Correcting Records With Form G-217

RRAILS Form G-217 is used to notify various RRB units of the erroneous report 

of death. Copies of Form G-217 should be sent as an E-mail attachment to the 

various RRB group mailboxes (see Form G-217, Disposition instructions). 

Subsections (a) through (c) below indicate which units to notify and why they 

need to be notified. After releasing copies to the various units, an online copy 

can be sent directly to the Imaging System. For instructions on how to complete 

the imaging dialog box see RRBVision presentation titled Sending RRAILS 

Documents to Imaging. 
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RCM 6.4 Reinstatement Revised Aug 28, 2017 Page 16 of 20

a. Program Evaluation and Management Services -Program Evaluation 

Section (PEMS-PES-UI/SI/DIS/FLD) - Release an electronic copy of Form 

G-217 to the supervisor in PES-UI/SI/DIS/FLD in all erroneous report of 

death cases. PEMS-PES-UI/SI/DIS/FLD will monitor the case for any 

subsequent erroneous report of death received after the case has been 

reinstated.

b. P&S-RRA Application and Calculation (P&S-RAC) – Release an electronic 

copy of Form G-217 to the RAC – Erroneous Report of Death group 

mailbox in all erroneous report of death cases. P&S-RAC will review the 

information to determine what action, if any, they will need to take to 

correct their records.

c. Medicare Section (MS) - Release an electronic copy of Form G-217 to the 

Medicare Group Mailbox when Medicare is involved. MS will correct the 

Medicare status, update the premium paid through date, and where 

applicable, notify the field office to release Form RL-380F.

d. P&S-Compensation & Employer Services Center (P&S-CESC) – Release 

an electronic copy of Form G-217 to the CESC – Compensation & 

Employer Services Center group mailbox in all erroneous report of death 

cases. P&S-CESC will review the information to determine what action, if 

any, they need to take to correct their records.

2. Correcting records with Form G-205

Release Form G-205 to the Debt Recovery Division (BFO-DRD). BFO-DRD will 

need to delete/cancel any pending reclamation action and correct the accounts 

receivable record.

3. Correcting CHICO Using the PC-G-607 Program

Use the PC-G-607 program to correct CHICO if an interim widow status has 

been entered erroneously into the record. When the employee is erroneously 

terminated, the spouse is put in interim widow (IW) status. Reinstatement of the 

employee does not change IW status in CHICO. Data completion instructions for 

the PC-G-607 program are explained in RCM 9.4, Record Changes.

NOTE: If the spouse annuity was converted to a widow’s annuity, the widow’s 

record must be deleted from CHICO and PREH before the employee can be 

reinstated. Process a FAST-S/T transaction, using code 62, to delete the CHICO 

record. Additionally, telephone P&S-RAC and request them to delete the record

from PREH. Any overpayment resulting from the spouse-to-widow conversion 

must be recovered according to current overpayment recovery procedures. 

4. Notification to Last Railroad Employer
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RCM 6.4 Reinstatement Revised Aug 28, 2017 Page 17 of 20

Release Form Letter RL-73 to notify the last railroad employer when the 

employee is erroneously terminated. The employer will need the information to 

correct any improper action that was taken based on the erroneous report of 

death.

G. Correspondence

All correspondence and supporting documentation related to the erroneous death 

termination are to be imaged. 

6.4.51 Marriage Annulled

A. General - Decrees of annulment vary from state to state. While in a rare case an 

annulment may be equivalent to a divorce, an annulment is ordinarily a judicial 

declaration that a marriage was legally non-existent. How an annulment affects 

reinstatement depends on whether the marriage was void or voidable under 

State law.

A void marriage is one non-existent from the start (e.g., a bigamous marriage.) 

An insurance annuity or a divorced spouse's annuity which was terminated due 

to marriage can be reinstated as of the date of termination if the annulled 

marriage was void.

A voidable marriage is one defective under State law but considered valid until 

declared void by a court. An insurance annuity or a divorced spouse's annuity 

which was terminated due to marriage cannot be reinstated. A new application is 

required for any subsequent entitlement unless there is continuous entitlement to 

a widow(er)'s type annuity. For example, a new application is not required for 

payment of a widow(er)'s annuity if a remarried widow(er) on the rolls has the 

later marriage annulled. The widow(er)'s OBD is based on the original 

entitlement date prior to remarriage.

B. Effect of Alimony - Some State courts have the power to grant permanent 

alimony in an annulment action. Re-entitlement to benefits as a parent or child 

may be precluded if an annulment is granted and the court either granted 

permanent alimony or retained power to grant alimony later.

C. Development - Obtain a copy of the annulment decree. If it does not state the 

grounds on which the annulment was based, obtain a copy of the complaint filed 

in the proceedings.

D. Submission and Finding - Upon receipt of the decree and, if necessary, the 

complaint, send the case to the attorney-advisor for a ruling. The attorneyadvisor will specify the reinstatement date, if any, unless he finds that a formal 

submission to the DGC is required.
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RCM 6.4 Reinstatement Revised Aug 28, 2017 Page 18 of 20

6.4.52 Void Marriage - No Decree

A. General Rules - When a marriage is void under State law, the parties are not 

always required to have the marriage annulled by a court. A former annuitant 

may request reinstatement of the annuity, contending that the marriage was void 

because of an impediment and that no decree of annulment will be secured.

B. Development - Secure a complete statement of facts showing the basis of the 

contention and evidence of the impediment or condition which made the 

marriage void.

C. Submission - Upon receipt of the above statement and evidence, send the case 

to the attorney-advisor for a ruling. The attorney-advisor will specify the 

reinstatement date, if any, unless he finds that a formal submission to the DGC is 

required.

6.4.53 Marriage Ended By Divorce

A. General Rules - The Railroad Retirement Act does not provide for the 

reinstatement of an insurance annuity or a divorced spouse's annuity when the 

marriage which caused termination was dissolved by divorce. The marriage 

causes a break in entitlement; therefore the former annuitant must file a new 

application for any subsequent entitlement.

B. Divorce Decree Effected An Annulment - If the annuitant alleges that the divorce 

decree effected an annulment, request a copy of the complaint. When the copy 

of the complaint is received, send the case to the attorney-advisor. The attorneyadvisor will specify the reinstatement date, if any, unless he finds that a former 

submission to the DGC is required.

6.4.54 Marriage Ended By Death

The Railroad Retirement Act does not provide for the reinstatement of an insurance 

annuity or a divorced spouse's annuity when the marriage which caused termination 

was ended by death. The marriage causes a break in entitlement; therefore the former 

annuitant must file a new application for any subsequent entitlement.

6.4.55 When The Adoption Which Caused Termination Was Revoked

A. General Rules

1. General Cases - A child's (including a disabled child's or full-time 

student's) insurance annuity can be reinstated as of the date of 

termination, if the adoption was absolutely void. If the adoption was 

voidable and was abrogated, revoked or annulled in accordance with 
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RCM 6.4 Reinstatement Revised Aug 28, 2017 Page 19 of 20

State law, the attorney-advisor will determine whether the child must file a 

new application for any subsequent entitlement to benefits.

2. Retirement Cases - A child (including a disabled child or full-time student) 

can be included in the computation of an O/M retirement annuity as of the 

date of termination, if the adoption was absolutely void. If the adoption 

was voidable and was abrogated, revoked or annulled in accordance with 

State law, the attorney-advisor will determine whether new Forms G-319, 

and/or G-320 are required.

B. Development - Obtain a copy of the revocation of the adoption. If it does not 

state the grounds on which the revocation was based, obtain a copy of the 

complaint filed in the proceedings.

C. Submission - Upon receipt of the above decree and, if necessary, the complaint, 

send the case to the attorney-advisor for a ruling. The attorney-advisor will 

specify the reinstatement date, if any, unless he finds that a formal submission to 

the DGC is required.