Understanding the Railroad Retirement System

Railroad Retirement System QDRO Checklist

SAMPLE Railroad Retirement System Qualified Court Order (First 2 Pages Only)

General Questions to be Answered:

1. Name, address and phone number of the person requesting the order.
2. Name of the county in which the divorce is taking place.
3. Name of the court that has jurisdiction over the divorce.
4. Name of judicial district/circuit/division, if applicable.
5. Case reference number.
6. Name, address, date of birth and Social Security number of the employee (participant/member of the plan).
7. Name, address, date of birth and Social Security number of the employee’s spouse (alternate payee/former spouse).
8. Reason for order (marital property rights or alimony).
9. Date of marriage.
10. Date the marriage ended.
11. Date of divorce, if divorced.
12. Date the employee began participating in the plan, if prior to the date of marriage.
13. Is the employee still employed, terminated or retired?
14. The exact name of the pension plan.

Additional Questions to be Answered:

(Explanations are included with these questions)
1. What is the form of award to the alternate payee (percent or dollar amount)?
2. If the employee is entitled to additional annuity components (supplemental annuity, vested dual benefit or overall minimum increase), should the former spouse receive a portion of these benefits?
3. If the employee is receiving a disability annuity or starts to receive a disability annuity in the future, should the former spouse receive a portion of the disability annuity?

Additional Provisions that will be included in the Order:

1. Duration of Payments
2. Overpayments
3. Notification
4. Continued Cooperation of Employee
5. Jurisdiction
6. Qualifying Court Order Under the Railroad Retirement Board
7. Merger of Benefits and Indemnification
8. Continued Jurisdiction
9. Actions by Participant
10. Notice of Pending Retirement (if applicable)