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.
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
To view and download PDF documents, you need the free Acrobat Reader. We recommend using the latest version. Viewers with visual disabilities can go to Adobe's Access Website for tools and information that will help make PDF files accessible. |
To view and download PDF documents, you need the free Acrobat Reader. We recommend using the latest version. Viewers with visual disabilities can go to Adobe's Access Website for tools and information that will help make PDF files accessible.