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 February 2024

Spouses Encouraged to Apply for Annuities 

In addition to the railroad retirement annuities payable to railroad employees, the Railroad 

Retirement Act provides for direct payment of spouse annuities to the wives and husbands of retired 

employees. 

However, eligible spouses may not be filing applications for these railroad retirement annuities.

While some spouses may be unaware of their availability, a greater number appear to incorrectly

believe that they cannot receive a railroad retirement spouse annuity if they are also receiving a nonrailroad retirement benefit based on their own work and earnings, such as a social security benefit or a 

public service pension. While receipt of non-railroad retirement benefits can reduce the amount 

of a railroad retirement spouse annuity, it is still financially advantageous to file for a railroad 

retirement spouse annuity.

The following questions and answers attempt to clarify some common misconceptions about how 

entitlement to, or receipt of, non-railroad retirement benefits affects railroad retirement spouse annuities.

1. How are railroad retirement spouse annuities reduced for the receipt of non-railroad 

retirement benefits?

The tier I component of a spouse annuity is reduced for any social security entitlement, regardless 

of whether the social security benefit is based on the spouse’s own earnings, the employee’s earnings, 

or the earnings of another person. This reduction follows principles of social security law which limit 

payment to the higher of any two or more benefits payable to an individual at one time.

The tier I component may also be reduced for receipt of any federal, state, or local pension 

separately payable to the spouse based on the spouse’s own earnings. For spouses subject to a public 

service pension reduction, the tier I component reduction is equal to 2/3 of the amount of the public 

service pension.

While social security or public pension offsets reduce, or can eliminate, the tier I component, 

they do not affect the tier II component potentially payable to a spouse.

2. What would be an example of how the social security reduction is applied?

Mary, the spouse of a retired 60/30 employee, quits her social security-covered job as soon as she 

attains age 62 and applies for her social security benefit which, after the required social security age 

reduction, yields $850 a month. 

FROM THE DESK OF

JOHN BRAGG

LABOR MEMBER

 

U.S. Railroad Retirement Board
-2-

# # #

Mary also applies for a railroad retirement spouse annuity. Her husband’s monthly railroad 

retirement annuity consists of a tier I component of $1,600 and a tier II component of $1,200. Her 

gross spouse annuity would therefore consist of a tier I component of $800 a month (50 percent of 

$1,600 with no early retirement reduction as her husband is 60/30) and a tier II component of $540 (45 

percent of $1,200 with no age reduction). Since Mary’s own social security benefit is larger than her 

spouse tier I component, no tier I is payable. However, Mary would still be entitled to a monthly 

spouse tier II component of $540 in addition to her social security benefit.

3. What would be an example of how the public service pension reduction is applied?

Loretta, the spouse of a retired 60/30 employee, is receiving a monthly pension of $1,200 based on 

her employment with the state of Illinois. Loretta also recently filed for a railroad retirement spouse 

annuity. Her husband’s monthly railroad retirement annuity consists of a tier I component of $2,000 

and a tier II component of $1,400.

Loretta’s spouse annuity would therefore consist of a tier I component of $200 (50 percent of 

$2,000, with no early retirement reduction as her husband is 60/30, minus 2/3 (.66667) of $1,200, the 

amount of the public service pension) and a tier II component of $630 (45 percent of $1,400 with no 

age reduction). 

4. How do the average railroad retirement annuities and social security benefits awarded to 

spouses compare?

Annuities awarded to railroad retirement spouses (married to a career rail employee with 30 years 

of service) in fiscal year 2023 averaged $1,770 per month and $21,240 annually, while spouses under 

social security were awarded benefits averaging $1,270 and $15,240, respectively.

5. How can someone get more information about railroad retirement spouse annuities?

Publications, news releases, and other materials related to railroad retirement benefits are available 

online at RRB.gov under the main menu tab labeled Benefits (Retirement). Additional information is 

also available by going to RRB.gov/FAQ, and then selecting Retirement. Employees and spouses 

may schedule an appointment with a field service representative for individual retirement counseling, 

which is provided at any RRB field office or over the phone, by calling 1-877-772-5772. Employees 

and their spouses are encouraged to contact the RRB when planning for retirement so that agency 

representatives can explain benefit rights and furnish estimates of their prospective annuities.

While persons seeking in-office assistance are encouraged to schedule an appointment with their 

local field office by calling the agency’s toll-free number, individuals without appointments will not 

be refused service. However, they may be asked to schedule an appointment for a later time if there is 

no immediate availability. Individuals should bring a photo ID when visiting a field office. Field office 

addresses can be found by clicking on the Field Office Locator tab at RRB.gov or by calling 1-877-

772-5772. RRB field offices are generally open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., 

except for federal holidays.