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          News Releases
 Q&A: The Importance of a Current Connection for Railroad Retirement Benefits
      


  
  Q&A: The Importance of a Current Connection for Railroad Retirement Benefits
							 
														
              

      
            A current connection with the railroad industry is one of the eligibility requirements under the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) for both the occupational disability and supplemental annuities payable by the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). (A railroad employee does not need a current connection to be eligible for any other type of railroad retirement benefit or for purposes of Medicare coverage.) A current connection is also a factor in determining whether the RRB or the Social Security Administration will pay monthly survivor benefits, which are generally larger when paid by the RRB.
      Read moreabout Q&A: The Importance of a Current Connection for Railroad Retirement Benefits
    Q&A: Disability Annuities for Railroad Employees
      


  
  Q&A: Disability Annuities for Railroad Employees
							 
														
              

      
            The Railroad Retirement Act provides disability annuities for railroaders who become totally or occupationally disabled. Medicare coverage before age 65 is also available for totally disabled employees and those suffering from ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) or chronic kidney disease.
      Read moreabout Q&A: Disability Annuities for Railroad Employees
    Q&A: Private Railroad Pensions May Reduce RRB Supplemental Annuities
      


  
  Q&A: Private Railroad Pensions May Reduce RRB Supplemental Annuities
							 
														
              

      
            Railroad retirement annuitants are reminded that receipt of a private railroad pension may reduce the amount of a supplemental annuity payable by the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). The following questions and answers provide information on this subject and how 401(k) plans are affected by the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA).**1. What are the eligibility requirements for a supplemental annuity?**
      Read moreabout Q&A: Private Railroad Pensions May Reduce RRB Supplemental Annuities
    Q&A: Railroad Retirement Spouse and Widow(er)s' Annuities and Public Service Pensions
      


  
  Q&A: Railroad Retirement Spouse and Widow(er)s' Annuities and Public Service Pensions
							 
														
              

      
            Unless certain exemption requirements are met, Railroad Retirement Act spouse and widow(er)s’ annuities (including divorced spouse, surviving divorced spouse, and remarried widow(er)s’ annuities) must be reduced when a spouse or widow(er) is also entitled to a public service pension. Such dual entitlement, if not reported to the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), can result in benefit overpayments which have to be repaid, sometimes with interest and penalties.
      Read moreabout Q&A: Railroad Retirement Spouse and Widow(er)s' Annuities and Public Service Pensions
    Q&A: Applying for a Railroad Retirement Annuity
      


  
  Q&A: Applying for a Railroad Retirement Annuity
							 
														
              

      
            Railroad employees considering retirement should familiarize themselves with the Railroad Retirement Board’s (RRB) annuity application process. Being prepared can prevent needless delays and ensure that railroad retirement annuity payments begin as soon as possible after retirement.
      Read moreabout Q&A: Applying for a Railroad Retirement Annuity
    Q&A: Railroad Retirement Annuities and Pensions from Work Not Covered by Railroad Retirement or Social Security
      


  
  Q&A: Railroad Retirement Annuities and Pensions from Work Not Covered by Railroad Retirement or Social Security
							 
														
              

      
            Employee annuities paid under the Railroad Retirement Act are subject to dual benefit reductions when social security benefits are also payable. Railroad retirement annuities may also be reduced when certain public, non-profit, or foreign pension payments are due a retired employee.
      Read moreabout Q&A: Railroad Retirement Annuities and Pensions from Work Not Covered by Railroad Retirement or Social Security
    Q&A: Deemed Service Month Credits
      


  
  Q&A: Deemed Service Month Credits
							 
														
              

      
            Railroad retirement benefits are based on months of service and earnings credits. Earnings are creditable, up to certain annual maximums, on the amount of compensation subject to railroad retirement taxes.
      Read moreabout Q&A: Deemed Service Month Credits
    Q&A: Acting for Impaired Railroad Retirement Annuitants
      


  
  Q&A: Acting for Impaired Railroad Retirement Annuitants
							 
														
              

      
            According to Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) policy, every annuitant has the right to manage his or her own benefits. However, when physical or mental impairments make a railroad retirement annuitant incapable of properly handling benefit payments, or where the RRB determines that the interests of the annuitant so require, the agency can appoint a representative payee to act on the annuitant's behalf. A representative payee may be either a person or an organization selected by the RRB to receive benefits on behalf of an annuitant.
      Read moreabout Q&A: Acting for Impaired Railroad Retirement Annuitants
    Q&A: Railroad Retirement Service Credits and Pay for Time Lost
      


  
  Q&A: Railroad Retirement Service Credits and Pay for Time Lost
							 
														
              

      
            The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) frequently receives questions from railroad employers, employees, and employees' legal advisors about the RRB's treatment of pay for time lost in retirement cases. The most common type of pay for time lost situation arises out of personal injury settlements. Other types include dismissal allowances, guaranteed wages, displacement allowances paid for loss of earnings resulting from the employee being placed in a position or occupation paying less money, and reinstatement awards which include back pay.
      Read moreabout Q&A: Railroad Retirement Service Credits and Pay for Time Lost
    Q&A: RRB Reports Performance Under Customer Service Plan
      


  
  Q&A: RRB Reports Performance Under Customer Service Plan
							 
														
              

      
            The Railroad Retirement Board’s (RRB) **Customer Service Plan** promotes quality public service through timeliness standards dictating how long it should take the RRB to decide to pay or deny an application for a railroad retirement annuity or unemployment or sickness benefit. An important part of the plan is its pledge to inform the public about how well the agency meets those timeliness standards.
      Read moreabout Q&A: RRB Reports Performance Under Customer Service Plan
  
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