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SNAP CERTIFICATION MANUAL – APPENDIX G

Railroad Retirement A Guide to Sources of Unearned Income 4 Other systems, especially those for police officers and firefighters provide monthly benefits to survivors, particularly aged widows. Generally, however, provision for survivor consists either of a refund of contributions or continuing payments to the survivors of an annuitant. Railroad Retirement The Railroad Retirement Act and the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act provide protection for persons who work for railroads and certain companies closely connected with the railroad industry. These programs are administered by the Railroad Retirement Board. The Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) provides railroad retirement annuities to qualified railroad employees and their spouses. Railroad annuities, which are paid in the event of retirement, disability or death, are payable as early as age 60. Age and length of service determines the points of eligibility. Disability annuities are payable if: • An individual have at least 10 years of railroad employment or effective January 1, 2002, if less than 10 years or railroad employment have at least 5 years of railroad employment after December 31, 1995; Service months need not be consecutive, and in some cases military service may count. Credit for a month of railroad service is given for every month in which an employee has had some compensated service, even if only one day’s service is performed during the month. • For occupational disability, with 10 or more years of railroad service, have attained age 60 but not yet full retirement age and is disabled for your regular railroad job; • Or, any age, with at least 20 years of service and become partially disabled (unable to perform your regular job). An occupational disability is one that prevents you from performing your job with the railroad. It does not necessarily prevent you from working at some other kind of job. • For survivors to be eligible for benefits, the employee must also have been insured at death. • Total disability benefits are available at any age if you have become permanently disabled and have at least 10 years of railroad service. Total disability means that you must be unable to perform any kind of substantial gainful employment. Annuities are also payable to: • Spouses or divorced spouses; • Widows/ers and surviving divorced spouses; • Remarried widow(er)s; • Mothers/fathers;