20 CFR § 218.42 - When a parent annuity ends.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t20/s218.42"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "20 CFR § 218.42 - When a parent annuity ends."
title_number: 20
title_name: "Employees' Benefits"
section_number: "218.42"
section_name: "When a parent annuity ends."
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"
---


# 218.42 When a parent annuity ends.

(a) *Tier I.* The tier I benefit of a parent annuity ends with the earliest of the last day of the month before the month in which the parent—

(1) Dies;

(2) Becomes entitled to an old age benefit under the Social Security Act that is equal to or larger than the tier I benefit of the parent annuity before any reduction for the family maximum, unless he or she is also entitled to a tier II benefit (reduction for the family maximum is discussed in part 228 of this chapter);

(3) Becomes entitled to another survivor annuity in a larger amount, unless he or she elects to be paid the smaller annuity; or

(4) Remarries after the employee's death, unless he or she marries a person who is entitled to Social Security or Railroad Retirement Act benefits as a divorced spouse, widow, widower, mother, father, parent, or disabled child.

(b) *Tier II.* The tier II benefit of a parent annuity ends with the earliest of the last day of the month before the month in which the parent—

(1) Dies;

(2) Remarries after the employee's death; or

(3) Becomes entitled to another survivor annuity in a larger amount, unless he or she elects to be paid the smaller annuity.