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FOM1 1430 Coordinating Payees with the Social Security Administration Revised March 3, 2021 Page 1 of 3

1430.5 General

When the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is paying both a railroad retirement annuity 

and a social security benefit, the payee must be the same. The retirement or survivor 

unit in the Retirement and Survivor Benefit Division (RSBD) will attempt to resolve any 

payee discrepancies because the check will be combined. These discrepancies are 

discovered when the Social Security Administration (SSA) first certifies a benefit to the 

RRB for payment.

In addition to resolving representative payee discrepancies, RRB-SSA representative 

payee coordination in the selection process can enlarge the number of prospective 

representative payee's RRB has to choose from. For example, SSA's field offices utilize 

social service agencies as representative payees in cases where a relative cannot be 

located. By contacting SSA's local field office, the RRB field office can establish 

contacts with area agencies which may be suitable representative payees.

NOTE: When the RRB is paying a social security (SS) benefit to a beneficiary without a 

railroad retirement annuity (a pure SS case), SSA is solely responsible for determining 

the need for a representative payee and appointing a representative payee. If a RRB 

field office becomes aware of the possible need for a representative payee in a SS only 

case, do not initiate representative payee development. Notify the appropriate 

retirement or survivor unit within the Retirement and Survivor Benefits Division (RSBD) 

of the potential need for a representative payee. Provide RSBD with any information 

available for the rep payee development, such as the potential representative payee’s 

contact information and/or the point of contact information for any medical evidence, for 

forwarding to SSA. RSBD will notify the servicing SSA Program Services Center of the 

need for action via RRB Form RR-3, RRB Report of Events Affecting SSA Payments.

1430.10 Social Security Administration Has Representative Payee -

Railroad Retirement Board Does Not Have Representative Payee

1430.10.1 RSBD Actions

RSBD will initially accept the Social Security Administration's (SSA) representative 

payee determination in cases in which the RRB is paying benefits directly to an 

annuitant. Both SS and RRA benefits will be paid in a combined payment to SSA's 

payee.

RSBD will provide the field office with the name and address of SSA’s payee and 

request the field office to initiate representative payee development action. Payments 

will continue to SSA's payee unless you develop information indicating misuse of funds 

by that payee or other information indicating that SSA's payee is unfit to serve in that 

capacity. 
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1430.10.2 Field Actions

RSBD will provide the field office the name and address of the representative payee 

selected by SSA and request that you contact the payee to initiate development action.

If the payee is acceptable according to the standards in FOM-I-1420.5, set up a 

representative payee file, issue the proper informational booklet to the payee, explain 

the responsibilities of the payee under the Railroad Retirement Act and secure Form 

AA-5 and the proper certification form as indicated in FOM-I-1420.20.3. 

If you determine that the payee is unacceptable, also determine if the annuitant is 

receiving the proceeds of his or her payment. Follow instructions in FOM-I-1415.15. 

Send an email to the retirement or survivor unit indicating the reasons SSA's payee is 

unacceptable and if the annuity should be suspended. If there is an acceptable payee 

in your area, include that person's name and address in the memorandum. RSBD will 

submit change of payee recommendations to SSA for approval.

1430.15 RRB Has Representative Payee - SSA Does Not Have 

Representative Payee

1430.15.1 Retirement and Survivor Benefits Divisions’ Actions

If the railroad annuity is in pay status with a representative payee and the Social 

Security Administration (SSA) certifies social security benefit payments directly to the 

beneficiary, the retirement or survivor unit in RSBD will pay the social security benefit to 

the RRB representative payee and send payee selection information to SSA. SSA will 

generally accept the RRB payee. If SSA insists on paying the beneficiary directly, 

RSBD will request that you investigate the beneficiary's competence.

1430.15.2 Field Actions

Investigate the beneficiary's competence as set forth in FOM-I-1415.10. 

A. Beneficiary competent - Take action to discharge the payee and close your 

representative payee file. Notify the appropriate claims examining unit in RSBD

of your decision.

B. Beneficiary incompetent - Include your findings in an email to the appropriate

claims adjudication unit in RSBD. RSBD will forward this information to SSA. 

RSBD will pay both railroad and social security benefits to the RRB 

representative payee unless your investigation reveals that a new payee is 

needed.
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1430.20 Railroad Retirement Board and Social Security Administration 

Have Different Representative Payees

1430.20.1 Retirement and Survivor Benefits Divisions’ Actions

If the railroad annuity is in pay status with a representative payee, and the Social 

Security Administration (SSA) certifies a social security benefit payment to a different 

representative payee, RSBD will hold up the certification of the social security benefit 

pending a field office investigation. The railroad annuity will continue to be paid to the 

representative payee selected by the RRB. RSBD will request you to reconcile the 

discrepancy and accept SSA's payee, if possible. 

1430.20.2 Field Actions

Investigate to determine which payee should be selected to receive the annuitant's 

combined railroad/social security payments. Use the payee selection criteria set forth in 

FOM-I-1420.5. When the representative payee is selected, a Form Letter RL-107, 

"Advance Notice of Representative Payee Selection," must be released to the 

annuitant. 

A. Social Security Administration's representative payee is accepted - Issue the 

proper informational Form RB-5 to the new representative payee; explain the 

representative payee's responsibilities under the Railroad Retirement Act and 

secure Form AA-5 and the proper certification form as indicated in 

FOM-I-1420.20.3. Fifteen days after the release of the Form Letter RL-107, 

prepare a FAST-COA transaction to change the payee. Notify RSBD of the 

representative payee selection by e-mail.

RSBD will then pay the combined railroad/social security benefit to the same 

payee.

B. SSA's representative payee is not acceptable - Include your findings in an email

to the appropriate claims adjudication units in RSBD, and state the reasons you 

believe SSA's payee is unacceptable. RSBD will send this information to SSA for 

its decision.

Note: For further instructions on handling representative payee cases involving direct 

deposit, see FOM-1-1420.25.3.