The Railroad Retirement Act provides annuities for employees who have reached a specified age and have been credited with a specified number of years of service. The Act also provides annuities for employees who become disabled. In addition, to be eligible for an annuity an employee must comply with the work restrictions outlined in subpart C of this part.

The Railroad Retirement Act provides annuities based on the employee's age for employees who have been credited with at least 10 years of railroad service.

(a) Annuities based on 10 years of service. An employee with 10 years of railroad service but less than 30 years of service is eligible for an annuity if he or she:

(1) Has attained retirement age; or

(2) Has attained age 62 (the annuity cannot begin prior to the first full month during which the employee is age 62) but is less than retirement age. All components of the annuity are reduced for each month the employee is under retirement age when the annuity begins.

(b) Annuities based on 30 years of service. An employee who has been credited with 30 years of railroad service is eligible for an annuity at age 60 (the annuity cannot begin prior to the first full month the employee is age 60). The Tier I component of the annuity is reduced if the employee meets the following conditions:

(1) The employee annuity begins before the month in which the employee is age 62; and either

(2) He or she had not attained age 60, prior to July 1, 1984; or

(3) He or she had not completed 30 years of railroad service prior to July 1, 1984.

(c) Change from employee disability to age annuity. A disability annuity paid to an employee through the end of the month before the month in which the employee attains retirement age is converted to an age annuity beginning with the month in which he or she attains retirement age.

The Railroad Retirement Act provides two types of disability annuities for employees who have been credited with at least 10 years of railroad service. An employee may receive an annuity if his or her disability prevents work in his or her regular railroad occupation. An employee who cannot be considered for a disability based on ability to work in his or her regular railroad occupation may receive an annuity if his or her disability prevents work in any regular employment.

(a) Disability for work in regular railroad occupation. An employee disabled for work in his or her regular occupation, as defined in part 220 of this chapter, is eligible for a disability annuity if he or she:

(1) Has not attained retirement age; and

(2) Has a current connection with the railroad industry; and has either:

(3) Completed 20 years of service; or

(4) Completed 10 years of service and is at least 60 years old.

(b) Disabled for work in any regular employment. An employee disabled for work in any regular employment, as defined in part 220 of this chapter, is eligible for a disability annuity if he or she:

(1) Is under retirement age; and

(2) Has completed 10 years of service.

In addition to the eligibility requirements listed above, an employee may be required to meet other conditions before payment of his or her annuity may begin.

(a) To receive payment of an employee annuity based on age, an eligible employee must:

(1) Apply to be entitled to an annuity; and

(2) Give up the right to return to service with his or her last railroad employer.

(b) If a disability annuity is converted to an age annuity when the annuitant attains retirement age, the age annuity cannot be paid until the employee gives up the right to return to work as described in subpart C of this part. The employee may authorize the Board to relinquish any such right on his or her behalf at the time when he or she applies for the disability annuity.

(c) To receive payment of an employee annuity based on disability, and eligible employee must apply to be entitled to an annuity.

(d) When requested, the employee must submit evidence to support his or her application, such as proof of age or evidence of disability.