(a) An annuity begins either on the earliest date permitted by law, or on a specific date chosen by the applicant. If the applicant chooses a specific date, that date must not be before the earliest date permitted by law.

(b) An annuity may not begin on the thirty-first day of a month, unless the claimant would lose benefits if the annuity begins on the first day of the following month. No annuity is payable for the thirty-first day of any month.

(a) When application is filed. The applicant may choose an annuity beginning date by—

(1) Naming the month, day and year in an application accepted by the Board; or

(2) Including with the application a signed statement which tells the date (month, day and year) when the annuity should begin.

(b) After application is filed. After an application is filed, the claimant may choose an annuity beginning date by submitting a signed statement which tells the month, day and year when the annuity should begin.

If the applicant for any type of annuity other than a disability annuity, or a spouse annuity based upon the disabled applicant's compensation, chooses an annuity beginning date in a month which is more than three months after the date the application is filed, the Board will deny the application as explained in part 217 of this chapter. The applicant must file a new application no earlier than three months before the month he or she wants the annuity to begin.

(a) Before annuity is awarded. A claimant may change the annuity beginning date if—

(1) The claimant requests the change in a signed statement; and

(2) The statement is received by the Board on or before the date of the claimant's death.

(b) After annuity is awarded. An award can be reopened to change the annuity beginning date to a later date if—

(1) The annuitant requests the change in a signed statement;

(2) The statement is received by the Board on or before the date of the annuitant's death;

(3) The annuitant shows that it is to his or her advantage to have a later annuity beginning date; and

(4) All payments made for the period before the later annuity beginning date are recovered by cash refund or setoff.

(a) Full-age annuity—employee has completed 10 years but less than 30 years of service. An employee full-age annuity begins on the later of either the date chosen by the applicant or the earliest date permitted by law. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(1) The day after the day the claimant last worked for a railroad employer;

(2) The first day of the month in which the claimant attains full retirement age; or

(3) The first day of the sixth month before the month in which the application is filed.

(b) Reduced-age annuity—employee has completed 10 years but less than 30 years of service. An employee reduced-age annuity begins on the later of either the date chosen by the applicant, or the earliest date permitted by law. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(1) The day after the day the claimant last worked for a railroad employer;

(2) The first day of the first full month in which the claimant is age 62; or

(3) The first day of the month in which the application is filed if the claimant does not have a spouse (or divorced spouse) who would be entitled to a retroactive unreduced spouse (or divorced spouse) annuity. If the claimant has such a spouse (or divorced spouse) the claimant's annuity can begin on the first day of the month in which the spouse (or divorced spouse) annuity begins.

(c) Disability annuity. An employee disability annuity begins on the later of either the date chosen by the applicant or the earliest date permitted by law. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(1) The day after the day the claimant last worked for a railroad employer;

(2) The first day of the twelfth month before the month in which the application is filed;

(3) The first day of the sixth month after the month of disability onset; or

(4) The first day of the month of disability onset if the claimant was previously entitled to an employee disability annuity which ended within five years of the current disability onset month.

(d) Annuity based on at least 30 years of service. An employee annuity based on at least 30 years of service begins on the later of either the date chosen by the applicant or the earliest date permitted by law. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(1) The day after the day the claimant last worked for a railroad employer;

(2) The first day of the first full month in which the claimant is age 60 and will accept a reduced annuity;

(3) The first day of the month in which the claimant attains age 62; or

(4) The first day of the sixth month before the month in which the application is filed.

An employee supplemental annuity begins on the latest of—

(a) The beginning date of the employee age or disability annuity;

(b) The first day of the month in which the employee meets the age and years of service requirements as shown in part 216 of this chapter; or

(c) The first day of the twelfth month before the month in which the employee disability annuitant under age 65 gives up the right to return to work as explained in part 216 of this chapter.

(a) A spouse annuity begins on the later of either the date chosen by the applicant or the earliest date permitted by law.

(b) Earliest date permitted by law—(1) General rules. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(i) The day after the day the claimant last worked for a railroad employer;

(ii) The beginning date of the employee annuity;

(iii) The first day of the month in which the claimant meets the marriage requirement as shown in part 216 of this chapter; or

(iv) The first day of the month in which the employee annuitant meets the age requirement to qualify the claimant as shown in part 216 of this chapter.

(2) Full-age annuity. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(i) The month shown in paragraph (b)(1) of this section;

(ii) The first day of the month in which the claimant meets the age requirement as shown in part 216 of this chapter; or

(iii) The first day of the sixth month before the month in which the application is filed.

(3) “Child in care” annuity. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(i) The month shown in paragraph (b)(1) of this section;

(ii) The first day of the month in which the claimant becomes eligible for a spouse annuity based on having a “child in care” as shown in part 216 of this chapter; or

(iii) The first day of the sixth month before the month in which the application is filed.

(4) Reduced-age annuity. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(i) The month shown in paragraph (b)(1) of this section;

(ii) The first day of the first full month in which the spouse is age 62 if the employee has less than 30 years of service;

(iii) The first day of the month in which the spouse is age 60, if the employee has at least 30 years of service;

(iv) The first day of the sixth month before the month in which the application is filed; or

(v) The first day of the month in which the application is filed if beginning the annuity in an earlier month would increase the age reduction factor applied to the annuity.

(a) A divorced spouse annuity begins on the later of either the date chosen by the applicant or the earliest date permitted by law.

(b) Earliest date permitted by law—(1) General rules. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(i) The day after the day the claimant last worked for a railroad employer;

(ii) The beginning date of the employee annuity;

(iii) The first day of the first full month in which the employee annuitant is age 62 if the employee has not been granted a period of disability;

(iv) The first day of the month in which the employee annuitant attains age 62 if the employee has been granted a period of disability; or

(v) The first day of the month in which the final decree of divorce is effective.

(2) Full-age annuity. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(i) The month shown in paragraph (b)(1) of this section;

(ii) The first day of the month in which the claimant attains full retirement age;

(iii) The first day of the twelfth month before the month in which the application is filed if the employee is a disability annuitant or has been granted a period of disability; or

(iv) The first day of the sixth full month before the month in which the application is filed if the employee is not entitled to a disability annuity or a period of disability.

(3) Reduced-age annuity. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(i) The month shown in paragraph (b)(1) of this section;

(ii) The first day of the first full month the claimant is age 62 if the application is filed in or before that month; or

(iii) The first day of the month in which the application is filed.

(a) A widow(er) annuity begins on the later of either the date chosen by the applicant or the earliest date permitted by law.

(b) Earliest date permitted by law—(1) Full-age annuity. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(i) The first day of the month in which the employee dies;

(ii) The first day of the month in which the claimant attains full retirement age; or

(iii) The first day of the sixth month before the month in which the application is filed.

(2) Reduced-age annuity—(i) Widow(er) age 60 through age 62. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(A) The first day of the month in which the employee dies;

(B) The first day of the month in which the claimant attains age 60; or

(C) The first day of the sixth month before the month in which the application is filed.

(ii) Widow(er) over age 62 but under full retirement age. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(A) The first day of the month in which the employee dies;

(B) The first day of the month in which the claimant attains age 62 and one month; or

(C) The first day of the month in which the application is filed.

(3) Disability annuity. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(i) The first day of the month in which the employee dies;

(ii) The first day of the month in which the claimant attains age 50;

(iii) The first day of the twelfth month before the month in which the application is filed; or

(iv) The first day of the sixth month after the month of disability onset.

(4) “Child in care” annuity. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(i) The first day of the month in which the employee dies;

(ii) The first day of the month in which the claimant becomes eligible for a widow(er) annuity based on having a “child in care” as explained in part 216 of this chapter; or

(iii) The first day of the sixth month before the month in which the application is filed.

(a) A child annuity begins on the later of either the date chosen by the applicant or the earliest date permitted by law.

(b) Earliest date permitted by law—(1) General rules. The earliest date permitted by law is the later of—

(i) The first day of the month in which the employee dies; or

(ii) The first day of the month in which the claimant becomes eligible for a child annuity as explained in part 216 of this chapter.

(2) Child age annuity. The earliest date permitted by law is the later of—

(i) The month shown in paragraph (b)(1) of this section; or

(ii) The first day of the sixth month before the month in which the application is filed.

(3) Child annuity based on full-time school attendance. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(i) The month shown in paragraph (b)(1) of this section;

(ii) The first day of the sixth month before the month in which the application is filed;

(iii) The first day of the month in which the claimant is in full-time school attendance at an elementary or secondary educational institution; or

(iv) The first day of the month in which the claimant attains age 18.

(4) Child disability annuity. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(i) The month shown in paragraph (b)(1) of this section;

(ii) The first day of the sixth month before the month in which the application is filed;

(iii) The first day of the month in which the claimant meets the definition of disability as explained in part 220; or

(iv) The first day of the month in which the claimant attains age 18.

A parent annuity begins on the later of either the date chosen by the applicant or the earliest date permitted by law. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(a) The first day of the month in which the employee dies;

(b) The first day of the month in which the claimant attains age 60; or

(c) The first day of the sixth month before the month in which the application is filed.

(a) A surviving divorced spouse annuity begins on the later of either the date chosen by the applicant or the earliest date permitted by law.

(b) Earliest date permitted by law—(1) General rules. The earliest date permitted by law is the later of—

(i) The first day of the month in which the employee dies; or

(ii) The first day of the month in which the claimant becomes eligible for a surviving divorced spouse annuity as shown in part 216 of this chapter.

(2) Full-age annuity. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(i) The month shown in paragraph (b)(1) of this section;

(ii) The first day of the month in which the claimant attains full retirement age; or

(iii) The first day of the sixth month before the month in which the application is filed.

(3) Reduced age annuity. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(i) The month shown in paragraph (b)(1) of this section;

(ii) The first day of the month in which the claimant attains age 60; or

(iii) The first day of the month in which the application is filed or the first day of the month preceding the month in which the application is filed if the employee died in that preceding month.

(4) Disability annuity. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(i) The month shown in paragraph (b)(1) of this section;

(ii) The first day of the month in which the claimant attains age 50;

(iii) The first day of the twelfth month before the month in which the application is filed; or

(iv) The first day of the sixth month after the month of disability onset.

(5) “Child in care” annuity. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(i) The month shown in paragraph (b)(1) of this section; or

(ii) The first day of the sixth month before the month in which the application is filed.

(a) A remarried widow(er) annuity begins on the later of either the date chosen by the applicant or the earliest date permitted by law.

(b) Earliest date permitted by law—(1) General rules. The earliest date permitted by law is the later of—

(i) The first day of the month in which the employee dies; or

(ii) The first day of the month in which the claimant becomes eligible for a remarried widow(er) annuity as shown in part 216 of this chapter.

(2) Full-age annuity. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(i) The month shown in paragraph (b)(1) of this section;

(ii) The first day of the month in which the claimant attains full retirement age; or

(iii) The first day of the sixth month before the month in which the application is filed.

(3) Reduced-age annuity. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(i) The month shown in paragraph (b)(1) of this section;

(ii) The first day of the month in which the claimant attains age 60: or

(iii) The first day of the month in which the application is filed or the first day of the month preceding the month in which the application is filed if the employee died in that preceding month.

(4) Disability annuity. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(i) The month shown in paragraph (b)(1) of this section;

(ii) The first day of the month in which the claimant attains age 50;

(iii) The first day of the twelfth month before the month in which the application is filed; or

(iv) The first day of the sixth month after the month of disability onset.

(5) “Child in care” annuity. The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—

(i) The month shown in paragraph (b)(1) of this section; or

(ii) The first day of the sixth month before the month in which the application is filed.