[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 20, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 20CFR218.11]

[Page 219-220]
 
                      TITLE 20--EMPLOYEES' BENEFITS
 
                  CHAPTER II--RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD
 
PART 218_ANNUITY BEGINNING AND ENDING DATES--Table of Contents
 
                    Subpart B_When an Annuity Begins
 
Sec. 218.11  When a spouse annuity begins.

    (a) A spouse annuity begins on the later of either the date chosen 
by the applicant or the earliest date permitted by law.
    (b) Earliest date permitted by law--(1) General rules. The earliest 
date permitted by law is the latest of--
    (i) The day after the day the claimant last worked for a railroad 
employer;
    (ii) The beginning date of the employee annuity;
    (iii) The first day of the month in which the claimant meets the 
marriage requirement as shown in part 216 of this chapter; or
    (iv) The first day of the month in which the employee annuitant 
meets the age requirement to qualify the claimant as shown in part 216 
of this chapter.
    (2) Full-age annuity. The earliest date permitted by law is the 
latest of--
    (i) The month shown in paragraph (b)(1) of this section;
    (ii) The first day of the month in which the claimant meets the age 
requirement as shown in part 216 of this chapter; or
    (iii) The first day of the sixth month before the month in which the 
application is filed.
    (3) ``Child in care'' annuity. The earliest date permitted by law is 
the latest of--
    (i) The month shown in paragraph (b)(1) of this section;
    (ii) The first day of the month in which the claimant becomes 
eligible for a spouse annuity based on having a ``child in care'' as 
shown in part 216 of this chapter; or
    (iii) The first day of the sixth month before the month in which the 
application is filed.
    (4) Reduced-age annuity. The earliest date permitted by law is the 
latest of--

[[Page 220]]

    (i) The month shown in paragraph (b)(1) of this section;
    (ii) The first day of the first full month in which the spouse is 
age 62 if the employee has less than 30 years of service;
    (iii) The first day of the month in which the spouse is age 60, if 
the employee has at least 30 years of service;
    (iv) The first day of the sixth month before the month in which the 
application is filed; or
    (v) The first day of the month in which the application is filed if 
beginning the annuity in an earlier month would increase the age 
reduction factor applied to the annuity.