RRB grants credit for MS for war periods including Operation Desert Shield/ Desert
Storm, the period 06/15/1948 - 12/15/1950, the national emergency period 12/16/1950
- 09/14/1978 and any other period of service if involuntary. Certain conditions of
the service are required and RRB will credit MS if the MS is needed to establish eligibility
or to increase the amount of the RR benefit.
RRB can credit MS that is not creditable under the SS Act even though the total of
RR service months including the MS is less than 120 or less than 60 service months
after December 31,1995. When the MS is included in the RR compensation, SSA credits
the MS that otherwise could not be credited. For example, the MS may be in 1939 or
the discharge maybe dishonorable, either of which normally precludes SSA MS credit.
If RRB credits the MS, the credit will be included in the RR compensation certified
to SSA.
The two programs are coordinated so that it is impossible for the NH to receive dual
earnings credit for the same month of MS. Both agencies certify MS earnings credits
to the extent that the MS is creditable under their respective Acts. The adjudicating
agency uses the MS earnings credits certified by the other agency for only those periods
that the MS is not creditable under its own Act. However, SSA may not use any RR MS
credit for any year prior to 1937. (See RS 01702.192.) RRB may give credit for MS even though the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
gives MS credit for Civil Service annuity purposes. (See RS 01601.410B.3.)