Credit for Military Service

If you ever served in active duty in the United States Armed Forces, the RRB may be able to use that military service to increase your annuity. You must first submit a copy of your latest Department of Defense Form 214, or any official record that shows your dates of federal military service.

Shorten the processing time of your future benefit application by submitting proof of your military service now. When sending documents to the RRB, always include your name, your social security number and a daytime telephone number where you can be reached.

If your military service records were destroyed, either in the 1973 fire in the National Records Center at St. Louis, or in some other way, you may request a new military service record with Form SF-180, Request Pertaining to Military Records. This form is available from the RRB or in the Research Room at US National Archives and Records Administration.

Basic Requirements Under the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA)

The Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) allows credit for military service that began in a war period or period of national emergency and for involuntary (draft) military service. This prevents career railroad employees from losing retirement credits while actively serving in the national defense. To receive credit for military service, you must always meet one of the general railroad service requirements of Section 1 below and must meet one of the specific requirements in Section 2, Section 3, or Section 4 which follow.

• General Requirements under RRA - The RRA allows credit for military service as railroad service months only if, prior to the beginning of your military service either in the same calendar year or in the next preceding calendar year, as the enlistment, induction or call from inactive duty, you:
  • performed compensated service for an employer under the RRA;
  • were entitled to Pay for Time Lost as an employee for an employer under the RRA; or,
  • were serving as an employee representative as defined in the RRA.
    
  • September 8, 1939 through June 14, 1948 (If you voluntarily entered military service January 1, 1947 through June 14, 1948, you can only receive credit through June 14, 1948);
  • June 15, 1948 through December 15, 1950, provided the additional requirements described in Section 3 are met;
  • December 16, 1950 through September 14, 1978 (but any voluntary active duty extending beyond September 14, 1978, is not creditable); and,
  • August 2, 1990 to a date not yet determined.
    
    • In addition to these war periods or periods of national emergency, some active duty in the federal military reserve may be creditable as explained in Section 4 below.
      
    • performed compensated service for an employer under the RRA in the year released from active military service or in the next year; and,
    • did not work for a nonrailroad employer after leaving military service and before resuming railroad employment.
      

    Basic Requirements Under the Social Security Act Rules

    Since most military service performed after 1956 is creditable under the SS Act, the wage credits are posted to your SS Act wage record. The few cases in which military service is not creditable under the SS Act involve military service performed before 1957 that was either less than 90 days or that had a type of discharge other than honorable.

    When military service is used as railroad service months in your Tier 2 component, the SS Act prohibits the use of the same military service as wages.

    Affect in Your Annuity Rate

    Tier 1 Component - Military service creditable under the RRA or SS Act can be used to increase the yearly earnings amounts used in the computation of your Tier 1 component, subject to the yearly earnings maximum. This is true even when the same military service is used as railroad service months in your Tier 2 component.

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