20 CFR § 217.2 - Definitions.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t20/s217.2"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "20 CFR § 217.2 - Definitions."
title_number: 20
title_name: "Employees' Benefits"
section_number: "217.2"
section_name: "Definitions."
chapter_name: "RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "REGULATIONS UNDER THE RAILROAD RETIREMENT ACT"
part_number: "217"
part_name: "APPLICATION FOR ANNUITY OR LUMP SUM"
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. 231d and 45 U.S.C. 231f."
regulatory_source: "47 FR 7647, Feb. 22, 1982, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "217"
---


# 217.2 Definitions.

The following definitions are used in this part:

*Applicant* means a person who signs an application for an annuity or lump sum for himself or herself or for some other person.

*Application* refers only to a form described in § 217.6.

*Apply* or *file* means to sign a form or statement that the Railroad Retirement Board accepts as an application.

*Award* means to process a form to make a payment. An annuity is awarded on the date the payment form is processed.

*Claimant* means a person who files for an annuity or lump sum for himself or herself or the person for whom an application is filed.