20 CFR § 216.50 - General.
---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t20/s216.50"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "20 CFR § 216.50 - General."
title_number: 20
title_name: "Employees' Benefits"
section_number: "216.50"
section_name: "General."
chapter_name: "RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "REGULATIONS UNDER THE RAILROAD RETIREMENT ACT"
part_number: "216"
part_name: "ELIGIBILITY FOR AN ANNUITY"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "45 U.S.C. 231f."
regulatory_source: "56 FR 28692, June 24, 1991, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "216"
---
# 216.50 General.
The Railroad Retirement Act provides annuities for the spouse, and divorced spouse, of an employee who is entitled to an employee annuity. A spouse may receive an annuity based on age, or on having a child of the employee in his or her care. A divorced spouse may only receive an annuity based on age. No spouse or divorced spouse annuity may be paid based upon disability.