I am eligible for railroad retirement benefits and social security benefits. I will reach FRA in May 2022. Two customer service officials at the Railroad Retirement Board suggested I file at the SSA for social security benefits when I reach my FRA, make it clear to the SSA that I am not filing for railroad retirement benefits, collect social security benefits until I reach age 70, then stop them and start my railroad retirement benefits. Both officials were certain I would earn Delayed Retirement Credits on my railroad retirement while I was collecting social security benefits. Are the right? If they are, why would I not file at the SSA for social security benefits even before I reach my FRA?

Hi. Let me start off by telling you that I'm not an expert on Railroad Retirement (RR) benefits. I do know that you can accrue delayed retirement credits (DRC) on your Social Security retirement benefits even if you are collecting RR benefits, but I can't confirm that the reverse is true. I can confirm that you are allowed to apply for Social Security benefits without being required to apply for RR benefits at the same time, though.

I can't advise you about filing strategies without much more information, but I can tell you that what you were apparently told about being able to stop your Social Security retirement benefits at age 70 is definitely not correct. You can start drawing your Social Security benefits at full retirement age (FRA) and then apply for RR benefits at age 70, but your Social Security benefits would still continue be paid for the rest of your life. What would happen in that event is that the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) would offset your Tier 1 RR benefits dollar for dollar by the amount of your Social Security benefit.

Best, Jerry