SSA may not grant MS credit if RRB has granted credit for MS during the WW II period, 09/16/1940 - 07/24/1947, or during the post-WW II period, 07/25/1947 -12/31/1956. (See HI 00801.201 for ESRD claims exception.)

The mere creditability of MS by RRB does not preclude SSA credit since RRB will only credit the MS if it is to the advantage of the worker for RR service months, a higher annuity, or to credit MS not creditable by Social Security. RRB must have actually used the MS to establish eligibility or to compute the benefit amount. Further, the crediting of MS by RRB in only one of the two periods (WW II or post-WW II) does not preclude SS credit in the other period.

If the NH's RR compensation cannot be used by SSA because there are 120 or more months of RR service or effective 01/01/2002, if less than 120 months of RR service but with at least 60 months of RR service accrued after December 31, 1995 which may include creditable MS, an SSA-655-U2 must be obtained from RRB before SSA can credit MS (see RS 01702.278). If the SSA-655-U2 returned from RRB indicates (per the check blocks) that MS was not used, but it contains a remark to the effect that MS was used as SS wages in tier I, SSA MS credit can be given.

 

*“None” does not necessarily mean that RRB cannot credit the MS. RRB will not credit MS unless advantageous to the annuitant. (See RS 01601.440A.)

**Periods of MS creditable by SSA may not reflect the entire period at issue because RRB may have credited MS in the WW II or post-WW II period. SSA may not credit MS in the same period even though RRB does not credit all the MS. Note Example D where RRB credited MS in the WW II period which precluded SSA credit for MS prior to 07/1947. (See RS 01701.001.)