Notifying the RRB when someone dies
Family member is responsible for notifying the RRB
OverviewWhen someone dies
Railroad Retirement Board
Phone1-877-772-5772
TTY312-751-4701
Mailing Address
Railroad Retirement Board William O. Lipinski Federal Building 844 North Rush Street Chicago, IL 60611-1275
WebsiteVisit website→
HoursMonday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. local time (24-hour automated service available)
Survivor Benefits
Phone1-877-772-5772
WebsiteLearn about benefits→
HoursMonday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. local time
Death Reporting
Phone1-877-772-5772
Timeline
30 to 60 days for survivor annuity claims after all required documentation is received
WebsiteLearn more →
HoursMonday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. local time
Verified May 2026
When someone dies, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) must be notified. The family member is responsible for notifying the RRB.
Notification deadline: As soon as possible; annuity payments received after death must be returned.
Steps to take
Steps for notifying the RRB and applying for survivor benefits:
1
Notify the RRB of the death (https://www.rrb.gov/RB-9/Spouse_or_Employee_Death):
- •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
2
Return any annuity payments received after the date of death:
- •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
3
Apply for survivor benefits (https://www.rrb.gov/Benefits/Survivor/downloadableforms):
- •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
4
Submit required supporting documents:
- •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
5
Wait for the RRB to process the claim. The RRB will send a decision letter once the claim is adjudicated.
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. Average children's annuity is approximately $1,839 per month (fiscal year 2024).
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). Average lump-sum death benefit is approximately $940 (fiscal year 2024).
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.
After completing the notification process, eligible survivors can apply for 5 benefits through the RRB. Each benefit has its own eligibility requirements and application process.
Keep copies of all documents submitted to the RRB. Original documents submitted for verification are typically returned after processing.
Railroad Retirement Board
Phone1-877-772-5772
TTY312-751-4701
Mailing Address
Railroad Retirement Board William O. Lipinski Federal Building 844 North Rush Street Chicago, IL 60611-1275
WebsiteVisit website→
HoursMonday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. local time (24-hour automated service available)
Survivor Benefits
Phone1-877-772-5772
WebsiteLearn about benefits→
HoursMonday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. local time
Death Reporting
Phone1-877-772-5772
Timeline
30 to 60 days for survivor annuity claims after all required documentation is received
WebsiteLearn more →
HoursMonday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. local time
Verified May 2026