Can my 96-year-old father switch from Railroad Retirement to full Social Security benefits under new law?

I work with railroad retirees regularly, and I need to clarify something important - there's a fundamental misunderstanding here. Railroad Retirement and Social Security are coordinated systems, not separate benefits you can just switch between. When someone qualifies for both, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) typically pays a combined benefit that includes the equivalent of Social Security plus an additional tier based on railroad service. There is no "new law" allowing someone already receiving RRB benefits to suddenly claim full separate Social Security benefits. The "little bit of Social Security" your father mentioned isn't a separate benefit - it's likely the Tier 1 component of his RRB benefit, which is equivalent to Social Security. I recommend calling the RRB directly at 1-877-772-5772 to discuss your father's specific situation. They can explain his current benefit structure and whether he's receiving everything he's entitled to.

my neighbor worked for the railroad for 15 years and he gets both checks every month, one from railroad and one from social security!!! so maybe ur dad can do the same thing?? worth asking about i think

I feel for you trying to help your elderly dad. My mother is 92 and just navigating her benefits is exhausting. Hope you get some answers!

The previous responder is correct that Railroad Retirement and Social Security are coordinated systems. However, there HAVE been some changes to Railroad Retirement in recent years including several COLA adjustments. Your father might qualify for some additional benefits or adjustments based on his age and specific situation. The problem is that trying to get through to the Railroad Retirement Board on the phone is ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE right now!!! I spent WEEKS trying to reach someone about my uncle's benefits after he passed. Kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours only to be told someone would call back (they never did). I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual human at the RRB in about 20 minutes instead of endless waiting. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU It was so worth it to finally talk to someone who could explain everything clearly and help us understand what benefits were available. I highly recommend having your father's RRB claim number and any recent correspondence ready when you call.

I think you might be referring to the Social Security and Railroad Retirement dual benefit elimination that happened with the 1983 amendments. Before that, some people could receive benefits under both systems. But that was eliminated nearly 40 years ago. What your father receives is likely a Tier 1 component (equivalent to Social Security) and a Tier 2 component (like a pension) from Railroad Retirement. If he had enough railroad service (usually 10+ years), the RRB handles everything. One thing to check: if your father's railroad work was less than 10 years, he might be receiving a regular Social Security benefit plus a supplemental annuity from RRB. In this case, he should be getting two separate payments already. Also, make sure he's receiving any other benefits he might qualify for like Medicare Extra Help or SNAP benefits which could help with expenses.

Your father's situation sounds complex! I went through something similar with my uncle last year. In his case, there was confusion because he had worked under both systems at different times. I'm not sure about any new law, but there was a COLA increase of 3.2% for 2024 for both Social Security and Railroad Retirement benefits. That should have automatically applied to your father's benefits. Also, at his age, he might qualify for additional assistance programs beyond just his RRB benefits. Has he been screened for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)? Even though he has Railroad Retirement, if his total income is low enough, he might qualify for additional help.

THIS is why our system is BROKEN!!!! My grandfather worked for the railroad for 42 YEARS and his benefit is BARELY enough to live on now. Why can't seniors collect everything they've earned and paid into??? Meanwhile Congress gives themselves raises every year!!!

One last thing to consider - if your father has limited income and resources despite his RRB benefits, he should definitely apply for the Medicare Savings Programs. They can help pay Medicare premiums and in some cases deductibles and copayments. This could free up a significant amount of his monthly income. Also, many states have pharmaceutical assistance programs for seniors that can help with medication costs beyond what Medicare Part D covers. These programs won't increase his RRB payment directly, but they can effectively increase his available monthly income by reducing his healthcare expenses.