TN 12 (01-14)

When the prospective claimant has railroad earnings and files for reduced RIB, the field office (FO) should determine if the claimant received any RUIA payments during the past 18 months and after age 62. The FO does not have the primary responsibility of alerting the claimant that SS entitlement may affect RUIA payments, since the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) routinely explains the effects of SS entitlement.

The FO informs the prospective claimant that:

1. only RRB can explain how RIB entitlement affects the RUIA payments, and

2. he or she is responsible for repayment of any resulting RUIA overpayment, and

3. we provide RIB entitlement information to the RRB, and

4. electing to delay filing for reduced RIB until after receipt of all RUIA payments, could result in a larger RIB.

NOTE: Document the information provided to the claimant on the Report of Contact (RPOC) screen, following MSOM MCS 008.007.

The entitlement to retroactive benefits (from the RRB or us) reduces the amount of RRB sickness or unemployment benefits and creates an overpayment. If the NH received RUIA payments after age 62 and within the past 18 months, he or she may decide not to file for a reduced RIB or elect to begin benefits with a month later than the first possible month. Either option results in fewer reduction months, used for computation of benefits.

A prospective claimant, at Full Retirement Age (FRA) or older, who is receiving RUIA payment, should consider how delayed retirement credits (DRC) after FRA can increase SSA benefits before making a decision on filing for benefits.