Can you collect railroad retirement and social security

Why Am I Being Penalized For Working For The Railroad?

Larry, I worked for the railroad from 2006-2022. I left the railroad and working full time. I plan on working till I am 65. I look at my social security statement and it shows 0 dollars obviously for the years of railroad time, however I keep seeing that when I retire RRB reduces my tier 1 dollar for dollar of Social Security Security. With this method my Social Security doesn't take into account my years of railroad service and then I am really losing money. Instead of double dipping I am being double penalized and getting way less. How is this possible.
Table of Contents Show

Why Am I Being Penalized For Working For The Railroad?
Do My Railroad Credits Get Rolled Into Social Security?
What Does Drawing Social Security Disability Do To My Railroad Retirement Divorced Spousal Benefits?
Can Anything Be Done About My Benefits?
Can You Tell Me Where It's Covered In The Regulations That My Social Security Must Be Paid Through The RRB?
How Can I Verify What I Was Told When I Applied For Railroad Retirement?
Can I Receive Spousal Benefits From SSA Or The RRB?
Will I Continue To Receive Tier II Railroad Benefits After I Start Drawing Social Security?
Can I Collect Social Security Spousal Benefits If I'm Receiving Railroad Retirement?
Will I Still Be Able To File A Spousal Claim With SS If My Husband Dies?
How does railroad retirement affect Social Security benefits?
Can railroad workers collect Social Security?
Which is better railroad retirement or Social Security?

Posted:

Thursday, October 13, 2022 - 11:51

Hi Larry, I’m 60 right now, and I’ve been thinking about taking SS at 63, my Full retirement age is 67. Now for the question, I worked for the rail road for 13 years and was vested, does that somehow get rolled into SS when it’s time to apply? Or do I need to file for railroad retirement separately?

Posted:

Tuesday, July 12, 2022 - 11:53

What if I already draw social security disability? What does that do to my RR retirement from my ex who is already retired?

Hi. If you're collecting any type of Social Security benefits and if you claim Railroad Retirement (RR) benefits, the Railroad Retirement Board will offset your Tier 1 RR benefit dollar for dollar by the amount of your Social Security benefit.

Best, Jerry

Posted:

Thursday, April 21, 2022 - 12:53

Can Anything Be Done About My Benefits?

I worked and paid into the Railroad 14 years. I worked and paid into ssa 50 years. I worked until age 66, my fra. I never collected from my ex. At age 80, my ex dies. I applied for a survivors benefit meeting all the qualifications. I worked 16 years AFTER I LEFT THE RAILROAD , MAKING GOOD MONEY AS A NURSE WITH LOTS OF OVERTIME. Railroad had denied me any overtime when I was there. According to ssa, my survivor award was to be $2,700 plus $6,000 back pay .The railroad took all this, including the $6,000 and made me a tier 11 and awarded me $77. Big deal!

Posted:

Thursday, March 24, 2022 - 14:06

My husband is a railroad retiree and receives Tier I and II benefits. I am a retiree who never worked for the railroad but for some reason my Social Security is being paid through the RRB. Can you tell me where in either law or regulation, this is covered? I am also interested to know what will happen upon my husband's death to his Tier I benefit. Will I be eligible for that or a portion of that or only Tier II? Is that because RRB is paying my Social Security? Would it be different if my retirement was being paid by Social Security instead of the RRB? Thank you.

Posted:

Monday, February 7, 2022 - 18:02

How Can I Verify What I Was Told When I Applied For Railroad Retirement?

When I applied for Railroad retirement, I was told that if SS was more that i should apply for that instead of RR. I asked the question as to why I couldn’t collect both and got the impression that both railroad retirement and social security should be combined and I don’t believe that they were. How can I verify this

Posted:

Saturday, January 8, 2022 - 12:01

Can I Receive Spousal Benefits From SSA Or The RRB?

I retired from the Railroad in 2004. My wife died in 2019 at age 75. Can I receive Spousal Benefits from the SSA or the RRB?

Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. My expertise is limited to Social Security (SS) benefits, not Railroad Retirement (RR) benefits. What I can tell you is that if your wife was insured for SS benefits and assuming that you're at least age 60 or at least age 50 and disabled, then you could likely qualify for widower's benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Posted:

Sunday, December 26, 2021 - 12:29

I'm divorced and have been collecting through my retired ex Tier II RRB benefits since 2014 (I turned 62) and Tier I benefits since 2018 (age 66).
I will be 70 in February 2022--will I continue to receive Tier II benefits after I enroll in Social Security?

Posted:

Thursday, December 23, 2021 - 13:01

I am currently collecting RR benefits and reached FRA prior to my retirement . My wife retired at 62 and has also been collecting RR retirement but at a reduction.. Her plan is to switch to Social Security at 70 since her benefit will be much higher. My question is can I collect a spousal benefit at that time based on her SS benefit? BTW I purchased your book Get What's Yours prior to my retirement and though I receive RR your book answered many questions regarding retirement for myself and my wife. Thank you!

Posted:

Saturday, December 11, 2021 - 11:15

Will I Still Be Able To File A Spousal Claim With SS If My Husband Dies?

My husband started drawing RRB (Tier I & Tier II) at age 64, and is intending to file for his delayed Social Security benefit at age 70 in a few years. The increase will be quite substantial. I am drawing Social Security benefits on my own account, however, the RRB pays them to me (sent to them from SS) because as a spouse of a former railroad worker, I am entitled to receiving 1/2 of his Tier II benefits also. So, the RRB is in charge of disbursing my monthly funds.

Posted:

Monday, December 6, 2021 - 19:53

10 or more years of railroad work or you have five or more years of work after 1995, you may qualify for a pension from the Railroad Board. We will not use those railroad earnings in determining your Social Security credits or benefit amount. Your Social Security Statement yearly earnings from 1973 to present.

The railroad retirement lump-sum benefit is generally payable only if survivor annuities are not immediately due upon an employee's death. The social security lump-sum benefit may be payable regardless of whether monthly benefits are also due.

But railroad retirement benefits are generally higher than Social Security benefits, because railroad employers and workers pay higher retirement taxes. In 2021, the average railroad retirement benefit is $3,045 (compared to about $1,550 for Social Security).