Annuities are payable to surviving widows and widowers, children and certain other dependents. Lump-sum benefits are payable after the death of a railroad employee only if there are no qualified survivors of the employee immediately eligible for annuities. With the exception of a residual lump-sum death benefit, eligibility for survivor benefits depends on whether or not the employee was “insured” under the Railroad Retirement Act at the time of death.

An employee is insured if he or she has at least 10 years of railroad service, or 5 years performed after 1995, and a “current connection” with the railroad industry as of the month the annuity begins or the month of death, whichever occurs first. The current connection requirement is described at the beginning of this pamphlet.

If a deceased employee was not so insured, jurisdiction of any survivor benefits payable is transferred to the Social Security Administration and any survivor benefits are paid by that agency instead of the Board. Regardless of which agency has jurisdiction, the deceased employee's railroad retirement and social security credits will be combined for the purpose of benefit computations.

Please call our funeral home office for more information or assistance with Railroad Retirement Benefits and application procedures.


CLICK HERE to link to the Railroad Retirement Board Survivor Benefits Page