# 20 C.F.R. § 261.5 (2026): Late completion of timely investigation

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T20_P261_S261_5

## Section

- **Citation:** 20 C.F.R. § 261.5 (2026)
- **Heading:** Late completion of timely investigation
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Title 20 CFR: Employees' Benefits / Chapter II: RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD / Part 261: ADMINISTRATIVE FINALITY / § 261.5: § 261.5   Late completion of timely investigation.

## Text

(a) A decision may be revised after the applicable time period in § 261.2(a) or § 261.2(b) of this part expires if the Railroad Retirement Board begins an investigation into whether to revise the decision before the applicable time period expires and the agency diligently pursues the investigation to the conclusion. The investigation may be based on a request by a claimant or on action by the Railroad Retirement Board.
(b)
Diligently pursued
for purposes of this section means that in view of the facts and circumstances of a particular case, the necessary action was undertaken and carried out as promptly as the circumstances permitted. Diligent pursuit will be presumed to have been met if the investigation is concluded and, if necessary, the decision is revised within 6 months from the date the investigation began.
(c) If the investigation is not diligently pursued to its conclusion, the decision will be revised if a revision is applicable and if it is favorable to the claimant. It will not be revised if it would be unfavorable to the claimant.

## Nearby sections

- [20 C.F.R. § 261.1 (2026) § 261.1   Reopening and revising decisions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T20_P261_S261_1.md)
- [20 C.F.R. § 261.2 (2026) § 261.2   Conditions for reopening.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T20_P261_S261_2.md)
- [20 C.F.R. § 261.3 (2026) § 261.3   Change of legal interpretation or administrative ruling.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T20_P261_S261_3.md)
- [20 C.F.R. § 261.4 (2026) § 261.4   Decisions which shall not be reopened.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T20_P261_S261_4.md)
- [20 C.F.R. § 261.5 (2026) § 261.5   Late completion of timely investigation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T20_P261_S261_5.md)
- [20 C.F.R. § 261.6 (2026) § 261.6   Notice of revised decision.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T20_P261_S261_6.md)
- [20 C.F.R. § 261.7 (2026) § 261.7   Effect of revised decision.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T20_P261_S261_7.md)
- [20 C.F.R. § 261.8 (2026) § 261.8   Time and place to request review of a revised decision.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T20_P261_S261_8.md)
- [20 C.F.R. § 261.9 (2026) § 261.9   Finality of findings when later claim is filed on same earnings record.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T20_P261_S261_9.md)
- [20 C.F.R. § 261.10 (2026) § 261.10   Increase in future benefits where time period for reopening has expired.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T20_P261_S261_10.md)
- [20 C.F.R. § 261.11 (2026) § 261.11   Discretion of the three-member Board to reopen or not to reopen a final decision.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T20_P261_S261_11.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T20_P261_S261_5. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.