20 CFR § 218.11 - When a spouse annuity begins.
---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t20/s218.11"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "20 CFR § 218.11 - When a spouse annuity begins."
title_number: 20
title_name: "Employees' Benefits"
section_number: "218.11"
section_name: "When a spouse annuity begins."
chapter_name: "RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "REGULATIONS UNDER THE RAILROAD RETIREMENT ACT"
part_number: "218"
part_name: "ANNUITY BEGINNING AND ENDING DATES"
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(b)(5)."
regulatory_source: "54 FR 30725, July 24, 1989, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "218"
---
# 218.11 When a spouse annuity begins.
(a) A spouse annuity begins on the later of either the date chosen by the applicant or the earliest date permitted by law.
(b) *Earliest date permitted by law*—(1) *General rules.* The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—
(i) The day after the day the claimant last worked for a railroad employer;
(ii) The beginning date of the employee annuity;
(iii) The first day of the month in which the claimant meets the marriage requirement as shown in part 216 of this chapter; or
(iv) The first day of the month in which the employee annuitant meets the age requirement to qualify the claimant as shown in part 216 of this chapter.
(2) *Full-age annuity.* The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—
(i) The month shown in paragraph (b)(1) of this section;
(ii) The first day of the month in which the claimant meets the age requirement as shown in part 216 of this chapter; or
(iii) The first day of the sixth month before the month in which the application is filed.
(3) *“Child in care” annuity.* The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—
(i) The month shown in paragraph (b)(1) of this section;
(ii) The first day of the month in which the claimant becomes eligible for a spouse annuity based on having a “child in care” as shown in part 216 of this chapter; or
(iii) The first day of the sixth month before the month in which the application is filed.
(4) *Reduced-age annuity.* The earliest date permitted by law is the latest of—
(i) The month shown in paragraph (b)(1) of this section;
(ii) The first day of the first full month in which the spouse is age 62 if the employee has less than 30 years of service;
(iii) The first day of the month in which the spouse is age 60, if the employee has at least 30 years of service;
(iv) The first day of the sixth month before the month in which the application is filed; or
(v) The first day of the month in which the application is filed if beginning the annuity in an earlier month would increase the age reduction factor applied to the annuity.