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  Review the file to determine if the FO requested an RR-3. If you find the FO requested the form, set a diary for 30 days to follow up with the RRB expeditor. If the FO did not request the RRB information or if you do not receive a response after the 30 days, contact the RRB expeditor by phone or email to obtain the information needed. To contact RRB via email or phone, see RS 01602.520.

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  Provide the RRB expeditor with the claimant’s identifying data (e.g. name, SSN, RRB status, etc.), and let him or her know that the NH has a pending WD request.

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  Mail a notice to the claimant stating the following: “We have received your request to withdraw your Social Security claim. We have contacted the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) to determine what effect (if any) withdrawing your claim will have on your current payments from the RRB. We will notify you of the status of your withdrawal request after we hear from the RRB.”

If the information from the RRB shows that no change on RRB benefits will result from withdrawing the SSA claim (i.e., no reduction or increase in the total amount of benefits payable), approve the WD request.

If the information from the RRB shows that the new benefit reduces the current benefit:

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  send a notice to the claimant explaining the benefit reduction and give the option to cancel the WD request. Instruct the claimant to respond directly to the PC within 30 days from the date of the notice.

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  If you do not receive a response within 30 days, approve the WD request and send a notice to the claimant informing him or her that the RRB will notify him or her of any actions it takes on the payments resulting from the approval of the WD.

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  Request termination of payments following instructions in section c below.

In RR certification cases, the RRB terminates payment to the beneficiary and offsets any payments made by SSA to the RRB on the beneficiary’s behalf against any RR annuity amounts paid. However, SSA must request termination of payments by following the steps below:

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  The Claims Specialist (CS) will prepare form SSA-559 (Transmittal Slip for Claims Folders) instructing the Benefits Authorizer (BA) or Benefits Technical Examiner (BTE) to terminate payment to the RRB on behalf of the claimant effective with the first month of entitlement of the withdrawn claim. Alert the BA or BTE that the withdrawn claim was a RR certification case.

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  The BA or BTE will notify the RRB via form SSA-3103 (SSA Certification of Title II Monthly Benefits to RRB for Payment or Adjustment) to terminate payment to the beneficiary and whether we must withhold an SSA repayment due from RRB benefits. Send a copy of the SSA-795 previously obtained consenting to offsetting benefits to the RRB with the SSA-3103. To contact RRB via email or phone, see RS 01602.520.

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  Once the termination of payment is completed, the RRB records will update through the Social Security Automated Data Transfer System as we extract and convey the specific data to the RRB.

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  Follow GN 00206.014 and request repayment of benefits.

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  Upon receiving repayment, approve the WD, and annotate the copy of the SSA-521 that repayment has been made; and

  • •

    For RUIA claims, fax a copy of the approved form SSA-521 (Request for Withdrawal of an Application) along with any other applicable statements (e.g., a request for adjustment), to the Director of Sickness and Unemployment Benefits for RUIA Claims. The fax number is (312) 751-7185.

  • •

    For RRB claims, email the approved SSA-521 along with any other applicable documents to RSB-InquiriesFromSSA@rrb.gov.

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  Notify the claimant that we have approved the request for WD and that we have notified the RRB.

If an RR annuitant requests repayment of SSA benefits through an adjustment of the accrued amount of annuity due from the RRB, the PC will:

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  Obtain a request and consent statement on an SSA-795 Statement of Claimant or Other Person (if the FO did not previously secure one).

  EXAMPLE: “In order to repay benefits owed as a result of my WD of an application for SSA benefits, I request that the Social Security Administration repayment due in the amount of ($ FILL IN) be withheld from the accrued amount that will be due me from the Railroad Retirement Board.”

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  Email a copy of the request for WD and the applicant's request and consent statement to the Director of Retirement Claims, Railroad Retirement Board at RSB-InquiriesFromSSA@rrb.gov. The documentation must include:

  • •

    Both RRB and SSA claim numbers;

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    The trust fund to be credited; and

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    A request that the RRB furnish SSA with a copy of the adjustment letter sent to the annuitant.

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  Upon receipt of the adjustment letter, notify the claimant that we have approved the request for WD.

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  Set a diary for verification of the transfer after we have notified the claimant of the approval of the WD request. The PC must diary these cases for 60 days. If no response, prepare a 30-day follow up and email it the RRB. If we do not receive a response after the 30 days, deny the WD request for no repayment and send a copy of the denial to the RRB at RSB-InquiriesFromSSA@rrb.gov.

NOTE: If the accrued amount of RR benefits is not enough to offset the Title II benefit repayment, request a direct refund of the balance before final approval of the WD.