What types of lump-sum death benefits are payable under the Railroad Retirement Act?
A lump-sum death benefit is payable to certain survivors of an employee with 10 or more years of railroad service, or less than 10 years if at least 5 years were after 1995, and a current connection with the railroad industry if there is no survivor immediately eligible for a monthly annuity upon the employees death. If the employee did not have 10 years of service before 1975, the lump sum is limited to $255 and is payable only to the widow(er) living in the same household as the employee at the time of the employees death. If the employee had less than 10 years of service but had 5 years after 1995, he or she must have met social securitys insured status requirements for the lump sum to be payable. If the employee had 10 years of service before 1975, the lump sum is payable to the living-with widow(er). If there is no such widow(er), the lump sum may be paid to the funeral home or the payer of the funeral expenses. These lump sums averaged $989 in fiscal year 2008. The railroad retir
