[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: 20CFR218.5] [Page 236] 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. 218.5 General rules. (a) An annuity begins either on the earliest date permitted by law, or on a specific date chosen by the applicant. If the applicant chooses a specific date, that date must not be before the earliest date permitted by law. (b) An annuity may not begin on the thirty-first day of a month, unless the claimant would lose benefits if the annuity begins on the first day of the following month. No annuity is payable for the thirty- first day of any month.