Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)
Railroad retirement survivor benefits, from lump-sum payments to monthly annuities
Railroad Retirement Board
Railroad Retirement Board William O. Lipinski Federal Building 844 North Rush Street Chicago, IL 60611-1275
Survivor Benefits
Death Reporting
30 to 60 days for survivor annuity claims after all required documentation is received
The Railroad Retirement Board administers retirement and survivor benefits for railroad workers and their families. The RRB system provides benefits similar to Social Security but with higher benefit levels for career railroad employees. When a railroad worker or retiree dies, the RRB processes survivor annuities, lump sum death benefits, and residual payments.
Notifying the RRB when someone dies
When a railroad retiree or employee dies, the surviving spouse or family member should contact the nearest RRB field office or call 1-877-772-5772 to report the death. The RRB must be notified promptly to stop annuity payments and avoid overpayment. An annuity is not payable for the month in which the employee or spouse dies. Railroad retirement benefits are separate from Social Security, so reporting a death to Social Security does not notify the RRB.
Timeline: As soon as possible; annuity payments received after death must be returned
- •Call 1-877-772-5772 (toll-free, Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
- •Or visit the nearest RRB field office in person (https://www.rrb.gov/Field-Office-Locator)
- •Have the deceased's Social Security number and RRB claim number available
- •An annuity is not payable for the month in which the employee or spouse dies
- •It is against the law to cash an annuity check issued to a person who has died; return uncashed checks to the RRB
- •For direct deposit payments received after death, the financial institution is required to return them to the Treasury Department
- •File Form AA-17 (Application for Widow/Widower Annuity)
- •File Form AA-17a (Application for Child's Annuity) if applicable
- •File Form AA-21 (Application for Lump-Sum Death Payment) if no monthly annuity is payable
- •Certified copy of the death certificate
- •Marriage certificate (for surviving spouse)
- •Birth certificates (for children)
- •Deceased's Social Security number and RRB claim number
- •Proof of age for the survivor
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Deceased's Social Security number
- RRB claim number (if available)
- Form AA-17 (Widow/Widower Annuity Application)
- Form AA-17a (Child's Annuity Application, if applicable)
- Form AA-21 (Lump-Sum Death Payment Application, if applicable)
- Marriage certificate (for surviving spouse claims)
- Birth certificates (for children's claims)
- Proof of age for the survivor
- Bank account information for direct deposit
Timeline
30 to 60 days for survivor annuity claims after all required documentation is received
Survivor benefits
Widow/Widower Annuity
Monthly annuity for the surviving spouse of a railroad worker with at least 10 years of railroad service (or 5 years after 1995) and a current connection to the railroad industry. The annuity has two tiers: Tier I (100% of the Social Security-equivalent amount) is based on combined railroad and Social Security earnings, and Tier II (50% of the employee's Tier II amount) is based on railroad service and earnings alone.
Eligibility: Surviving spouse age 60+ (50-59 if disabled, any age if caring for child under 18 or disabled child). Must generally have been married at least 9 months before the employee's death.
Amount: Tier I: 100% of the Social Security-equivalent survivor benefit; Tier II: 50% of employee's Tier II amount. Average widow(er) annuity is approximately $2,109 per month (January 2026).
How to apply: File Form AA-17 (Application for Widow/Widower Annuity) at the nearest RRB field office (https://www.rrb.gov/Field-Office-Locator) or call 1-877-772-5772
Learn more →Children's Survivor Annuity
Monthly annuity for unmarried children under 18 (or 18-19 if full-time students in elementary or secondary school) of a deceased railroad worker. Disabled children may receive benefits at any age if the disability began before age 22. Dependent grandchildren may also qualify. Tier I is 75% of the Social Security-equivalent amount and Tier II is 15% of the employee's Tier II amount.
Eligibility: Unmarried children under 18 (19 if full-time student in elementary/secondary school), or permanently disabled before age 22. Dependent grandchildren may qualify if parents are deceased or disabled.
Amount: Tier I: 75% of the Social Security-equivalent amount; Tier II: 15% of employee's Tier II amount. On average, children received approximately $1,984 per month (fiscal year 2025).
How to apply: File Form AA-17a (Application for Child's Annuity) at the nearest RRB field office or call 1-877-772-5772
Learn more →Lump Sum Death Benefit
A one-time payment to help defray burial expenses, payable only when no survivor qualifies for a monthly annuity in the month of death. For employees with at least 120 months of railroad service before January 1, 1975 (1937 Act), the payment ranges from $180 to $1,400 based on earnings. For employees without 120 months of pre-1975 service (1981 Amendment), the benefit is $255. An application must be filed within two years of the employee's death.
Eligibility: Surviving spouse living with the deceased at time of death, or the person who paid all or part of burial expenses. Payable only when no survivor qualifies for a monthly annuity in the month of death.
Amount: $255 (1981 Amendment, no 120 months pre-1975 service); $180 to $1,400 (1937 Act, 120+ months pre-1975 service). The 1937 Act lump sums averaged $1,039 and the average for all types of lump-sum death benefit was $937 (fiscal year 2025).
How to apply: File Form AA-21 (Application for Lump-Sum Death Payment) at the nearest RRB field office
Learn more →Residual Lump Sum
If no survivor annuity is payable, or if total survivor benefits paid are less than the total railroad retirement taxes paid by the employee, a residual lump sum may be payable to the estate or designated beneficiary. This ensures families receive at least the amount the employee contributed to the railroad retirement system. This benefit is seldom payable.
Eligibility: Estate or designated beneficiary when no survivor annuity is payable, or when total benefits paid are less than employee's railroad retirement tax contributions
Amount: Difference between railroad retirement taxes paid by the employee and benefits already received
How to apply: File Form AA-21 at the nearest RRB field office or call 1-877-772-5772
Learn more →Dependent Parent Annuity
Monthly annuity for a dependent parent age 60 or older who relied on the deceased employee for at least half of their financial support. Tier I is 82.5% of the Social Security-equivalent amount. If the employee was also survived by a widow(er), the parent's annuity is limited to Tier I only (Tier II is 35% when payable).
Eligibility: Parent age 60+ who was dependent on the deceased employee for at least half of their support
Amount: Tier I: 82.5% of the Social Security-equivalent amount; Tier II: 35% of employee's Tier II amount (when payable)
How to apply: Contact the nearest RRB field office or call 1-877-772-5772
Learn more →Frequently asked questions
Call the RRB toll-free at 1-877-772-5772 or visit the nearest RRB field office (https://www.rrb.gov/Field-Office-Locator) to report the death. Have the deceased's Social Security number and RRB claim number available. The RRB does not automatically receive death reports from Social Security.
A surviving spouse cannot receive both a full railroad retirement survivor annuity and a full Social Security survivor benefit. The Tier I portion of the railroad retirement annuity is subject to offset by Social Security benefits. However, the Tier II portion is not reduced by Social Security.
The RRB claim number is a unique identifier assigned to railroad employees by the RRB. It appears on annuity statements and correspondence from the RRB. If you do not know the claim number, the RRB can look it up using the deceased's Social Security number.
Yes. An annuity is not payable for the month in which the employee or spouse dies. Any payments received for the month of death or later must be returned. It is against the law to cash an annuity check issued to a person who has died. For direct deposits received after death, the financial institution is required to return them to the Treasury Department.
A current connection means the employee earned 12 months of railroad service within a 30-month period. It is required for Tier II survivor benefits and the 1937 Act lump-sum death benefit. Once established at the time the annuity begins, a current connection is never lost. Federal employment with certain agencies (DOT, TSA) does not break the connection.
Tier I is based on combined railroad and Social Security earnings using Social Security formulas. Tier II is based solely on railroad service and earnings. Widow(er)s receive 100% of the Tier I amount and 50% of the employee's Tier II amount. Tier II is not payable to surviving divorced spouses or remarried widow(er)s.
A residual lump sum is payable when no survivor annuity is due, or when total survivor benefits paid are less than the total railroad retirement taxes the employee paid during their career. It ensures that families receive at least the amount the employee contributed to the system. This benefit is seldom payable.
Most RRB survivor benefit claims are processed within 30 to 60 days after the RRB receives all required documentation. The RRB will send a decision letter once the claim is adjudicated.
No. Railroad retirement is a separate federal program administered by the Railroad Retirement Board. While it provides benefits similar to Social Security, railroad retirement generally pays higher benefits to career railroad workers. Railroad workers pay railroad retirement taxes instead of Social Security taxes.
Sources
Data sourced from Railroad Retirement Board primary sources (16 pages reviewed). How we research.
Railroad Retirement Board
Railroad Retirement Board William O. Lipinski Federal Building 844 North Rush Street Chicago, IL 60611-1275
Survivor Benefits
Death Reporting
30 to 60 days for survivor annuity claims after all required documentation is received