FOM1 525 

525.5 Initial FTA Eligibility Requirements 

525.5.1 Special Guaranty (Retirement O/M) Cases 

The employee’s unmarried child age 18-19, who is a full-time student at an elementary 

or secondary school, as explained in FOM-I-505.5.3, may be included as an IPI in the 

Special Guaranty Computation (also referred to as the Retirement O/M) of an employee 

annuity if the employee's annuity is either: 

	 being paid under the Special Guaranty in the month the child becomes entitled; or, 

	 a switch from the RR formula to the Special Guaranty formula is not prohibited. 

NOTE: A spouse cannot qualify for benefits on the basis of having a full-time 

student in care. 

525.5.2 Survivor Cases 

The deceased employee’s unmarried child age 18-19, who is a full-time student at an 

elementary or secondary school as explained in FOM-I-505.5.3, can receive a survivor 

annuity. 

NOTE: A widow(er) cannot qualify for benefits on the basis of having a full-time student 

in care. 

525.5.3 Child Eligible Both as an FTS and as a Disabled Child 

If a child appears to be eligible both as a FTS and as a disabled child, develop the case 

for entitlement as a disabled child. If it appears that the development of the child's claim 

based on disability would be prolonged, the claim may be developed for entitlement as 

a FTS to permit benefits to be paid while the disability claim is being developed. If the 

child's disability claim is established, examiners will make the necessary changes to 

PREH. 

The advantages of a child being entitled as a disabled child rather than as a FTS are: 

	 A widow(er)'s current insurance annuity or a spouse's annuity may be payable if 

the "child in care" requirements are met; 

 Follow-ups (benefit monitoring) to establish continuance of FTA are unnecessary; 

	 The child's annuity will not automatically be terminated at age 19; and, 

	 The child can be enrolled for Medicare coverage as a disabled QRRB. 

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525.10 Evidence Requirements 

The following items are required for a student to be included in the Retirement O/M 

computation of the employee's annuity or to be paid direct a child's insurance annuity 

because of his or her status as a full-time student, age 18 -19. 

525.10.1 Regular Educational Institution 

Evidence When Required 

Proof of Age Always (unless previously submitted). 

Proof of Relationship Always (unless previously submitted). 

Proof of Dependency Always (unless FTS can be deemed to be 

dependent or dependency was previously 

established). 

Statement Regarding Family 

and Earnings for the Special 

Guaranty Computation (Form 

G-319) 

Form G-319 is required if the child is 18 on the 

earliest date the child can be included in the 

Special Guaranty. Otherwise, the Form G-319 

should already be in the claim file. 

Student Questionnaire for 

Special Guaranty 

Computation (Form G-320) 

Always if FTS age 18-19 can be included in the 

Special Guaranty computation of the employee's 

annuity. Give booklet G-316 and Form G-77a to 

the student. 

Application for Child's 

Insurance Annuity (AA-19) 

An application for a child’s annuity (AA-19) is 

required to establish the child's relationship to the 

employee in survivor cases only if the FTS is 18-

19 on the OBD. Otherwise, the application for a 

child’s annuity should already be in the claim file. 

Student Questionnaire (Form 

G-315) 

Always in survivor student cases. Give booklet 

G-316 and Form G-77 to the student. 

Statement by School Official 

(Form G-315A) 

In both retirement and survivor student cases, 

when the student fails to return a monitoring 

Form G-315/G-320. This form is needed to verify 

the last day of full-time attendance. 

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School Official’s Notice of 

Cessation of Full-Time 

School Attendance (Form G315A.1). 

Always in both retirement and survivor student 

cases. The form should be released to the 

student's school (or home school instructor) after 

FTA has been verified. 

Documentation for Home 

Schooling Listed on Form G315H Checklist for 

Documentation Needed for 

Student Age 18-19 in Home 

Schooling 

Always in home schooling cases. 

525.10.2 Approved Home-Schooling 

The documentation required for home schooling is based on the laws of the state in 

which the student resides. Most of the documentation needed for the child should 

already have been assembled by the home-school teacher for approval by the school 

district. Request the home-school teacher to provide a copy of the required 

documentation for RRB records. If the field office is not able to obtain the required 

documentation, they will forward the case to RBD/SBD for denial or termination of 

student benefits 

Documentation When Required 

Documentation for Home Schooling 

Listed on Form G-315H Checklist for 

Documentation Needed for Student 

Age 18-19 in Home Schooling 

Always in home schooling cases. 

Form G-315, “ Student Questionnaire” Always. Note - If the child's annuity is in 

(With Certification from Home School pay status when the child attains age 18, 

Instructor) an additional application for a child's 

annuity is not required. 

A written notice to the superintendent 

of the school district, including: the 

name, age, and grade level of the 

student, the address at which the 

instruction is done, the source of 

instruction materials, the basic core 

curriculum, the proposed schedule; 

and, the credentials of the teacher. 

Always. This is required once for each 

school year. If none exists, requests the 

home school teacher to write the letter and 

send it to the superintendent of the school 

district, with a cc: to the RRB. 

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Written approval of the home schooling 

by the superintendent of the school 

district in which the student resides. 

Preferred. Required by most states, but 

not all states. This should be obtained 

once for each school year. 

Maintenance of attendance records for 

the school year. 

Always. These records should be updated, 

as available, when the student benefit is 

monitored. 

Use of nationally recognized 

standardized achievement tests 

(including reading, mathematics, 

language arts, science and social 

studies) by the end of the school year. 

Should be planned, but results may not be 

available at initial entitlement. These 

records should be updated, as available, 

when the student benefit is monitored. 

Visits to the site of the home schooling 

by the Home School Evaluator. 

Should be planned, but results may not be 

available at initial entitlement. These 

records should be updated when the 

student benefit is monitored. 

A teacher with at least a high school 

diploma. 

Required by most states, but not all states. 

Instruction for the General Educational 

Development (GED) test for a high 

school equivalency diploma. 

Should be planned if the student is 

studying at the 12th grade level. 

Form G-315a.1, "Notice of Cessation of 

Full-Time School Attendance." 

If FTS age 18-19 can be included in O/M. 

This form is released to the home school 

instructor after the FTA is verified 

525.15 Developing Initial FTA Evidence 

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (Buckley Amendment) restricts 

release of educational records without the written consent of the students or their 

parents. However, Section 438(b)(1)(D) authorizes educational institutions to release 

records without consent when the request is in connection with a student's application 

for, or receipt of, financial aid. The RRB has a letter from the U. S. Department of 

Education, which indicates that railroad retirement benefits are considered financial aid. 

If any U.S. school quotes the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as the 

basis for refusing information, cite the above section and advise that they are authorized 

to furnish us with information that is necessary to determine the student's initial and 

continued eligibility for student benefits. Form G-315 and Form G-320 contain a 

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consent statement so this problem should arise infrequently. Forms G-315A and G315A.1 include a reference to the RRB's authority for requesting information. 

FTA Is defined in FOM-I-505.5.3 

525.15.1 RL-175 Letter – Child Attaining Age 18 

The MAP program or SURVEA program will release Form Letter RL-175 four months 

before a child beneficiary attains age 18. SBD and RBD do not control these cases for 

responses to the RL-175 letters. The letters are designed to prevent an interruption in 

the payment of benefits to a survivor child, or to a retirement annuitant who is being 

paid under the Retirement O/M. They advise that the timely filing of a required 

application or statement will prevent such interruption. The field office will be able to 

view the imaged letter using Workdesk. No action is required by the field office unless 

contacted by the employee, child or payee. 

NOTE: Although an application can normally be filed only up to three months before 

eligibility, a Form G-315 or Form G-320 can be developed up to four months before 

eligibility when it is used to convert a minor child to a student child. 

525.15.2 Development for Special Guaranty Computation Student 

A.	 Develop Form G-319 –When the family group includes a child age 18-19 in FTA, at 

the initial payment of the Special Guaranty rate, develop Form G-319 Statement 

Regarding Family and Earnings for the Special Guaranty Computation from the 

employee. However, if the Special Guaranty rate is already in force when the child 

attains age 18, and qualifies as a full-time student, any documentation of the child's 

relationship to the employee should already be in RRB records. Do not develop a 

second Form G-319 at age 18. 

B.	 Develop Form G-320 - Form G-320 is available on RRAILS. Always develop a Form 

G-320 Student Questionnaire for Special Guaranty Computation when the employee 

is claiming a child age 18-19 entitled as a student in FTA. A separate Form G-320 is 

required for each student and each school year. If the student changes schools in 

the middle of the school year, a separate Form G-320 is required for each school. 

Use RRAILS Form RL-320 as cover letter whenever releasing Form G-320 to an 

employee. This letter advises the employee of the six steps necessary to complete 

and to return the Form G-320 to the field office. 

If home schooling is involved, develop the documentation on Form G-315H Checklist 

for Documentation Needed for Student Age 18-19 in Home Schooling in addition to 

the Form G-320 (see FOM-I-510.5.3). Form G-315H is available on RRAILS. 

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C.	 Provide Student Information - Include informational booklet G-316 Railroad 

Retirement Benefits for Students Age 18-19 and in Elementary or Secondary School 

only with the Form G-320 at initial entitlement as a student. Otherwise, the booklet is 

available at any RRB field office or on www.rrb.gov. 

Always enclose Form G-77a How Work Affects Retirement Annuities and a return 

envelope. Pend the case for 30 days 

525.15.3 Development for Survivor Student 

A.	 Develop Child’s Annuity Application on APPLE - Develop a Child’s Annuity 

Application on APPLE when the student is age 18-19 on the OBD. The Child’s 

Annuity Application obtains the documentation of the student's relationship to the 

employee. However, if the child's survivor annuity is already in force when the child 

attains age 18 and qualifies as a full-time student, any documentation of the child's 

relationship to the employee is in RRB records. Do not develop a second Child’s 

Annuity Application at age 18. 

B.	 Develop Form G-315 - Form G-315 is available on RRAILS. Always develop a 

Form G-315 Student Annuitant Questionnaire for a survivor child age 18-19 claiming 

FTA. A separate Form G-315 is required for each student and each school year. If 

the student changes schools in the middle of the school year, a separate Form G315 is required for each school. 

Use RRAILS Form RL-315 as the cover letter whenever releasing Form G-315 to a 

student. This letter advises the student of the five steps necessary to complete and 

to return the Form G-315 to the field office. 

If home schooling is involved, develop the documentation on Form G-315H Checklist 

for Documentation Needed for Student Age 18-19 in Home Schooling in addition to 

the Form G-315 (see FOM-I-510.5.3). Form G-315H is available on RRAILS. 

C. Provide FTA Entitlement Information – Include informational booklet G-316 Railroad 

Retirement Benefits for Students Age 18-19 and in Elementary or Secondary School 

only with the Form G-315 at initial entitlement as a student. Otherwise, the booklet is 

available at any RRB field office or on www.rrb.gov. 

Always include Form G-77 How Earnings Affect Survivor Annuities and a return 

envelope. Pend the case for 30 days 

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525.15.4 Developing FTA in Summer Months of Deemed FTA 

The Form G-315 or Form G-320 school official certification should be completed by the 

school (or home school) the student last attended before the period of non-attendance 

(June monitoring). 

1. If the student will resume attendance at the same school, release a second 

monitoring Form G-315 or Form G-320 to the school in the month the attendance 

is scheduled to resume (September monitoring). 

2. If the student will be attending a new school after the period of non-attendance 

ends, release the monitoring Form G-315 or Form G-320 to the new school in the 

month that attendance at the new school is scheduled to begin (September 

monitoring). 

525.15.5 Developing FTA for Student Not in Actual or Deemed FTA 

If children are not in actual or deemed FTA in the month they attain age 18, they cannot 

be paid as students for that month. The children can be entitled effective with the first 

month of FTA after attaining age 18, provided all other conditions for entitlement are 

met (as explained in FOM-I-530.5.2). 

525.15.6 Direct Deposit for Student 

Survivor students do not have the option of authorizing payment of their annuity to a 

parent. A student is an adult beneficiary and all development in a survivor case will 

ordinarily be directly with the student. 

If parents object to direct payment to students, explain that students are considered and 

treated as all other adult beneficiaries, and that representative payees will be appointed 

only if the students are incapable of handling their own funds. 

The student may have payments credited to an account at a financial institution through 

direct deposit. The account can be a personal checking account or a joint account with 

the parent. 

525.20 Student Forms Not Returned Within Thirty Days 

525.20.1 Survivor Child Applicant Age 18 on OBD 

If the child is age 18 on the OBD and the Form G-315 is not returned within 30 days of 

the date the form was released, contact the student by telephone to ascertain why it has 

not been returned. If the student indicates that the school is refusing to verify 

attendance on Form G-315, develop secondary evidence as explained in 

FOM-I-525.20.4. 

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If you are unable to reach the student by telephone, release the RRAILS RL-315f letter 

and pend the case for an additional 15 days. 

525.20.2 Child Age 18 on Special Guaranty Beginning Date 

If the child is age 18 on the Special Guaranty begin date and the G-320 is not returned 

within 30 days, contact the employee by telephone to ascertain why it has not been 

returned. If the employee indicates that the school is refusing to verify attendance on 

Form G-320, develop secondary evidence as explained in FOM-I-525.20.4. 

If you are unable to reach the employee by telephone, release the RRAILS RL-320F 

letter and pend the case for an additional 15 days. 

525.20.3 IPI Child or Survivor Annuitant Attains Age 18 

If the Form G-315 or Form G-320 is requested before the IPI child or survivor child 

attains age 18 and the form is not returned within 30 days, contact the student or 

employee by telephone to ascertain why it has not been returned. If the student or 

employee indicates that the school is refusing to verify attendance on Form G-315 or 

Form G-320, develop secondary evidence as explained in FOM-I-525.20.4. 

If you are unable to reach the student or employee by telephone, release the RRAILS 

RL-315F letter or RRAILS RL-320F letter and pend the case for an additional 15 days. 

525.20.4 Secondary Evidence of FTA 

If students or employees allege that the educational institution refuses to complete 

Form G-315 or Form G-320 or charges students to complete forms, contact the school 

to verify the allegation (unless you already know this is the school's practice). Maintain 

a list of such schools in the same notebook that you use to record the names and titles 

of the school officials who complete RRB student forms. When a school either charges 

a fee or refused to verify the attendance for the student, you may, at your discretion, 

develop secondary evidence of FTA. 

Acceptable secondary evidence of FTA in an educational institution would be anything 

that shows the student is carrying a sufficient number of credit hours to be in FTA and 

some proof of current enrollment at the school. This could include a schedule of 

classes accompanied by proof of payment for the current semester. The school may be 

able to advise the field office of what types of documentation the student should be able 

to produce. 

Although secondary evidence is allowed for regular school attendance, there is no 

corresponding secondary evidence allowed for home schooling. 

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525.21 Student Form Not Returned Timely 

525.21.1 Survivor Child Applicant Age 18 on OBD 

If the student cannot be contacted and the Form G-315 is not returned by the end of the 

15-day period indicated on the RL-315F, send the case for denial using manual review 

code 5. Complete an APPLE “Proof of Full-Time Attendance” screen (PF15) to support 

the SBD denial of the application. Put an “N” in the proof verified box. In “Remarks,” 

indicate that the FTA was not verified because the child failed to return the Form G-315. 

525.21.2 Child Age 18 on Special Guaranty Begin Date 

If the employee cannot be contacted and the Form G-320 is not returned by the end of 

the 15-day period indicated on the RL-320F, abandon the development of FTA. Do not 

complete an APPLE “Proof of Full-Time Attendance” screen (PF15). Instead, send an 

Outlook message to RBD that the FTA was not verified because the employee failed to 

return the Form G-320. RBD will release the RRAILS RL-300 to the employee. 

525.21.3 Student Form Not Returned Before the Month the Survivor Child 

Annuitant or IPI Child Attain Age 18 

Abandon the development of FTA. Do not complete an APPLE “Proof of Full-Time 

Attendance” screen (PF15). 

525.25 FTA Documentation Problems 

525.25.1 Assure FTA Evidence Signed By Proper School Official 

The field office is responsible for determining the acceptability of evidence submitted to 

verify school attendance at an educational institution or home schooling. When 

Form G-315 or Form G-320 is returned, review the contents and assure that the school 

certification section is signed by the proper school official. 

When evidence for home schooling is received, review the contents and assure that the 

letter approving the home schooling is signed by the school official designated by the 

laws of the State in which the student resides 

If you discover what may appear to be a forged form (see FOM-I-905.20), or conflicting 

information is secured, contact the school official in person or by telephone to see if the 

school official actually completed the form. 

1. If students are in FTA at an EI and the school official did not complete the form, 

contact the students preferably by telephone and advise them that the form they 

submitted is not acceptable because it was not completed by the school official. 

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FOM1 525 

Furnish the students with a new Form G-315 or Form G-320 to verify the FTA by 

having the form properly signed by the school official. 

2. If students are in home schooling and the superintendent of the school district did 

not sign the letter authorizing the home schooling, contact the student preferably 

by telephone and advise them that the authorization letter they submitted is not 

acceptable because it was not signed by the superintendent of the school district. 

Request a new letter properly signed by the school official. 

Advise the student that the FTA documentation properly signed by the school official 

must be received by the RRB within 15 days to avoid denial or termination of benefits. 

525.25.2 Fraud 

If you encounter cases where the student has repeatedly submitted Form G-315’s or 

Form G-320’s that were forged (not completed by the school or school district), send a 

memorandum summarizing the occurrences and photocopies of the suspect forms to 

Office of Programs - Field Service. 

If the student is not in FTA and the school official certification was forged (the school 

official did not complete the Form G-315 or Form G-320), notify the Debt Recovery 

Division of the apparent forgery by memorandum. Attach a photocopy of the suspect 

document. 

525.30 FTA Evidence Does Not Verify FTA 

525.30.1 Field Office Cannot Make Home Schooling Determination 

If, at the field office, you cannot determine whether or not the home schooling is FTA for 

a survivor or Retirement O/M case, enter any FTA information that you have on the 

APPLE “Proof of Full-Time Attendance” screen (PF15) with an “N” in the proof verified 

box. Include "FTA determination has not been made." in the “Remarks” section. Enter 

an “A” on the APPLE Summary screen to indicate that a hard copy of the FTA proof is 

being sent to Headquarters. Send a copy of the home school documentation to RBD or 

SBD via Form G-626. 

525.30.2 Student Survivor Application Denials 

If the child age 18-19 files a survivor Child’s Annuity Application and claims FTA on the 

OBD and the child either does not return the Form G-315 timely and properly signed by 

the school official or the Form G-315 submitted as proof of FTA does not verify FTA, 

send the application to SBD with manual review code 5 for denial. The field office is to 

complete the APPLE “Proof of Full-Time Attendance” screen (PF15) to support SBD’s 

denial of the application. Put an “N” in the proof verified box. Include "FTA not verified" 

in the “Remarks” section of the APPLE “Proof of Full-Time Attendance” screen (PF15). 

FOM1 525 Initial Eligibility Development Revised Jan 23, 2018 Page 10 of 14 
 

FOM1 525 

Image the original copies of any FTA documentation you were able to develop. SBD 

will deny the application and send a denial letter to the student. The student may 

reapply for benefits before attaining age 19. 

525.30.3 Student Retirement O/M Denials 

If the employee files Form G-319 Statement Regarding Family And Earnings For 

Special Guaranty Computation to have a child age18-19 included in the Retirement O/M 

as a student and either does not return the Form G-320 timely and properly signed by 

the school official or the forms submitted as proof of FTA do not verify FTA, RBD does 

not have a pending “application” to close out. Do not enter the FTA information on the 

APPLE “Proof of Full-Time Attendance” screen (PF-15). 

Instead, image the original FTA documentation that you were able to develop. Send an 

Outlook message to RBD indicating that the FTA was not verified. RBD will release 

RRAILS Letter RL-300 to the employee stating that the child cannot be included in the 

Special Guaranty. The employee may reapply for the student benefit before the child 

attains age 19 as long as the Special Guaranty rate is in force in the month the child 

becomes entitled as an FTS. 

525.30.4 FTA Claimed But Not Verified for Age 18 Attainments 

If the survivor or Retirement O/M child claims FTA at age 18 attainment and the child 

either does not return the G-315 or Form G-320 timely and signed by the proper school 

official or the forms submitted as proof of FTA do not verify FTA, neither SBD or RBD 

have a pending application to close out. Do not enter the FTA information on the 

APPLE “Proof of Full-Time Attendance” screen (PF15). Instead, image the original 

copies of the FTA documentation that you were able to develop. Send an Outlook 

message to SBD or RBD to indicate “FTA was not verified.” 

SURVEA will process the termination of the child’s survivor annuity when the child 

attains age 18. MAP will issue a referral to RBD to adjust the Special Guaranty rate 

when the child attains age 18. 

525.35 Initiating Student Benefits 

525.35.1 Field Office Action When FTA Verified on OBD or ABD 

As soon as you are satisfied with the authenticity of the school's verification of FTA, or 

authenticity of the verification of home schooling, enter the verified FTA proof on 

APPLE. On the APPLE menu, select “proof” and PF-3 “add new.” Then select the 

APPLE (PF15) Proof of Full-Time Attendance screen and enter the FTA proof according 

to APPLE instructions in FOM-I-1581. Image the original Form G-315 or Form G-320, 

and FTA documentation. 

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FOM1 525 

If home schooling documentation is used to verify FTA, the APPLE “Proof of Full-Time 

Attendance” screen (PF15) should indicate home schooling as the type of school. 

Image that documentation. 

If FTA is verified by using secondary evidence (see FOM-I- 525.20.4), include "verified 

by secondary evidence (type)" in the “Remarks” section of the APPLE “Proof of FullTime Attendance” screen (PF15) screen. Image the secondary evidence. 

NOTE: When the student beneficiary initially becomes entitled to student benefits, the 

field office should contact the student in person, whenever possible; to explain the 

reporting responsibilities that accompany student benefits and make sure the student 

has received Booklet G-316 Railroad Retirement Benefits for Students. If the student 

cannot be contacted in person, the field office may contact the student by telephone. 

The field office should document the contact date, the contact method, and an 

explanation for the telephone contact, (as opposed to the preferred personal contact), 

on Contact Log. 

525.35.2 Notification to SBD and RBD of Initial Entitlement FTA Proof 

If the Child’s Annuity Application is pending on the OBD, APPLE will attempt to pay the 

student annuity when all proofs are present. SBD will receive a referral indicating any 

problems in paying the annuity. The award notice will be imaged into the claim file. 

Note: APPLE creates a STAR referral for SBD when the child's application is filed if the 

applicant will turn age 18 within three months of the OBD. Enter the FTA proof for these 

cases as explained in FOM-I-525.35.3 below. 

If a child can be included in the Special Guaranty on the ABD, and Form G-320, and 

any additional FTA documentation, verifies FTA, enter the FTA proof on the APPLE 

Proof of Full-Time Attendance screen (PF15). Put a “Y” the FTA verified box. APPLE 

will not pay these cases. Send an Outlook message to RBD stating that the FTA proof 

is on APPLE. RBD will then take steps to pay based on full-time attendance. 

Once this the APPLE Proof of Full-Time Attendance screen (PF15) proof screen has 

been used to pay benefits, it cannot be changed. 

525.35.3 Minor Child Attains Age 18 and Qualifies as a Full-Time Student 

For children who are receiving survivor annuities as minor children prior to attaining age 

18, enter the Form G-315 information on APPLE “Proof of Full-Time Attendance” screen 

(PF15). You must also create an APPLE application type 8 conversion requests. 

APPLE will code in a Form G-315 for an age 18 child-to-student attainments as a 

student application in the KOR/STATS program and will create a STAR referral “Child to 

Student Application” for SBD examiner handling. 

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For children included in the Special Guaranty prior to attaining age 18, the field office 

should enter the Form G-320 information on APPLE “Proof of Full-Time Attendance” 

screen (PF15). Send an Outlook message to the RBD mailbox whenever you enter 

FTA information into the APPLE “Proof of Full-Time Attendance” screen (PF15). 

The APPLE “Proof of Full-Time Attendance” screen (PF15) Proof of Full-Time 

Attendance screen must be viewable by RBD or SBD prior to the month the child attains 

age 18 to prevent interruption in payments. 

A.	 When SURVEA mechanically terminates payments for the survivor child at age 18, 

SBD will not be able to make a timely reinstatement if the FTA documentation is not 

entered on the APPLE “Proof of Full-Time Attendance” screen (PF15) timely. If FTA 

is later verified and there is continuous entitlement, SBD will reinstate the student 

benefit retroactive to the same date on which the child’s annuity was terminated. 

However, payments may be interrupted until the reinstatement is made. 

B.	 RBD will need to adjust the employee’s annuity rate to remove a retirement child 

from the O/M computation if the FTA documentation is not entered on the APPLE 

“Proof of Full-Time Attendance” screen (PF15) timely. If the FTA is later verified and 

there is continuous entitlement, RBD needs to adjust the employee annuity again to 

include the student in the Retirement O/M computation retroactive to the date on 

which the student was removed from the Retirement O/M computation. These 

adjustments to the employee annuity can be avoided if the student FTA 

documentation is entered on the APPLE “Proof of Full-Time Attendance” screen 

(PF15) timely. 

Once the APPLE “Proof of Full-Time Attendance” screen (PF15) has been used to pay 

or continue student benefits, it cannot be changed. 

525.35.4 Minor Child Attains Age 18 and does not Qualify as a FTS 

When the information furnished by the student on Form G-315, the home school 

documentation, or directly from the school, indicates that such student does not qualify 

as an FTS, deny the student annuity. Give the reason(s) why the student does not 

qualify (e.g., not considered in FTA, school he is attending is not an educational 

institution, etc.). Release a copy of the denial letter, image a copy. 

525.36 Release Form G-315A.1 To Verify Last Day of FTA 

As soon as current FTA is verified for either a survivor or Retirement O/M student, 

always release Form G-315A.1 to the student's school or home school teacher (see 

FOM-I-1720, Form G-315a.1). 

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525.36.1 Release Form G-315A.1 

The RRAILS Form RL-315A.1 cover letter explains why the RRB sent the Form G315A.1 to the school or home school teacher. It includes the definition of full-time 

school attendance and requests the school or home school teacher to retain the 

Form G-315A.1 until an event occurs that causes the student to end the full-time school 

attendance. 

Item 8 of Form G-315A.1 allows the field office to select either school registrar or home 

school teacher for the label for that item before printing the form for release to the 

school. 

525.36.2 No Tracing is Required 

No tracing action is required by the field office for return of Form G-315A.1. 

525.36.3 School or Home School Teacher Returns Form G-315A.1 

If the school or home school teacher returns a Form G-315A.1 to the field office, review 

the contents and verify that the form was signed by the proper school official or home 

school teacher, and follow the procedure in FOM-I-535.5. 

FOM1 525 Initial Eligibility Development Revised Jan 23, 2018 Page 14 of 14