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Railroad Disability Benefits – Current Connection Requirements | New York Disability Laws

Gabe Hermann | 1091 Views | 04/10/2015

Railroad Connection Requirements

Hi. I’m Gabe Hermann and today we are going to speak about whether or not a current connection to the railroad is necessary when filing for railroad retirement benefits. While it is generally required to have a current connection to the railroad, if you work for at least five years and thus accrued at least 60 service credits, you will usually be eligible for some benefits based on railroad service.

Tier Two Benefits

While tier two benefits are not due to a railroad worker until at least 120 service credits have been accrued, the railroad pay is not lost in the period from five to 10 years. Even in cases where someone accrued 60 to 100 service credits, a claim can be filed with the Railroad Retirement Board especially if there is a current connection. Even if there’s no such connection, however, those earnings can be credited to the Social Security system.  If someone has less than five years or 60 service credits and no longer has a service connection, the income received from the Railroad Board is automatically transferred over to the Social Security system and the earnings are credited to Social Security.

Railroad Disability Benefits

On the other hand, if an employee worked for the railroad for at least 12 months in the 30 months immediately proceeding the month of disability, that employee will meet the current connection requirement for a supplemental annuity, occupational disability annuity, or the survivor benefits. Obviously, the rules regarding disability from Social Security and the Railroad Board are quite complex. Contact us. We know how to analyze the interplay between the various programs.

By: Gabe Hermann

Railroad Disability Benefits – Current Connection Requirements | New York Disability Laws

Railroad Connection Requirements

Hi. I’m Gabe Hermann and today we are going to speak about whether or not a current connection to the railroad is necessary when filing for railroad retirement benefits. While it is generally required to have a current connection to the railroad, if you work for at least five years and thus accrued at least 60 service credits, you will usually be eligible for some benefits based on railroad service.

Tier Two Benefits

While tier two benefits are not due to a railroad worker until at least 120 service credits have been accrued, the railroad pay is not lost in the period from five to 10 years. Even in cases where someone accrued 60 to 100 service credits, a claim can be filed with the Railroad Retirement Board especially if there is a current connection. Even if there’s no such connection, however, those earnings can be credited to the Social Security system.  If someone has less than five years or 60 service credits and no longer has a service connection, the income received from the Railroad Board is automatically transferred over to the Social Security system and the earnings are credited to Social Security.

Railroad Disability Benefits

On the other hand, if an employee worked for the railroad for at least 12 months in the 30 months immediately proceeding the month of disability, that employee will meet the current connection requirement for a supplemental annuity, occupational disability annuity, or the survivor benefits. Obviously, the rules regarding disability from Social Security and the Railroad Board are quite complex. Contact us. We know how to analyze the interplay between the various programs.

By: Gabe Hermann