# SSR 61-25: SSR 61-25. RAILROAD COMPENSATION CREDITABLE AS WAGES UNDER SOCIAL SECURITY ACT

> Federal · Rulings · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_61_25

## Section

- **Citation:** SSR 61-25
- **Heading:** SSR 61-25. RAILROAD COMPENSATION CREDITABLE AS WAGES UNDER SOCIAL SECURITY ACT
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Rulings
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Social Security Rulings / OASI / Definition of Wages / SSR 61-25

## Text

B filed for social security benefits in July 1960. B had been employed by
the X Railroad for the year 1959, and his earnings from the X Railroad
were as follows: January -- $500; February -- $400; March -- $400; April
-- $300; May -- $300; June -- $400; July -- $400; August -- $500;
September -- $400; October -- $300; November -- $400; December -- $500 --
for a total of $4,800.

Under section 209(a) of the Social Security Act, the first $4,800 of
wages paid in any calendar year after 1958 may be counted for social
security purposes. The Railroad Retirement Act, however, has no maximum
yearly amount of railroad earnings which is creditable for railroad
retirement purposes. Instead sections 3(c) and 5(1)(9) of that Act provide
a maximum monthly amount which may be used in determining benefits payable
under that Act: $400 for months after May 1959; $350 for months after June
1954 and before June 1959.

The question is whether only those amounts up to the monthly maximums
provided in the Railroad Retirement Act may be credited as wages for
social security purposes, or whether all railroad earnings up to the
$4,800 yearly maximum provided in the Social Security Act may be so
used.

Section 5(k) of the Railroad Retirement Act provides, in pertinent part,
that section 210(a)(9) of the Social Security Act shall not operate to
exclude railroad service from social security coverage where a worker has
less than 10 years of railroad service. Paragraph (3) of section 5(k)
further provides that in such cases, the Railroad Retirement Board shall
supply to the Social Security Administration certified reports of records
of compensation and periods of service and that such certified reports
shall be conclusive in adjudication as to matters covered therein.
ecurity coverage where a worker has
less than 10 years of railroad service. Paragraph (3) of section 5(k)
further provides that in such cases, the Railroad Retirement Board shall
supply to the Social Security Administration certified reports of records
of compensation and periods of service and that such certified reports
shall be conclusive in adjudication as to matters covered therein.

The purpose in enacting section 5(k) of the Railroad Retirement Act was
to carry over to the social security system in appropriate cases the
compensation which was creditable to the individual's account under the
railroad retirement system. Therefore, only compensation which is
creditable under the Railroad Retirement Act and which is certified to the
Social Security Administration by the Railroad Retirement Board may be
credited as wages for social security purposes.

Accordingly, it is held that only those amounts of B's railroad earnings
which are not in excess of the monthly maximums provided by the Railroad
Retirement Act, namely, up to $350 for months through May 1959 and up to
$400 for months thereafter, may be credited as wages for social security
purposes. Therefore, only $4,350 of the $4,800 which B earned for his
services for the X Railroad in 1959 is creditable for social security
purposes.

## Nearby sections

- [SSR 61-6 SSR 61-6. DOMESTIC SERVICE BY FAMILY MEMBER](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_61_6.md)
- [SSR 61-25 SSR 61-25. RAILROAD COMPENSATION CREDITABLE AS WAGES UNDER SOCIAL SECURITY ACT](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_61_25.md)
- [SSR 62-29 SSR 62-29. WAGES -- DOMESTIC SERVICE -- IDENTITY OF EMPLOYER](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_62_29.md)
- [SSR 62-63 SSR 62-63: Rescinded 1984](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_62_63.md)
- [SSR 63-18 SSR 63-18: SECTION 209. -- WAGES -- TRAVEL EXPENSES EXCEEDING ALLOWANCE FOR TRAVEL](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_63_18.md)
- [SSR 63-42c SSR 63-42c: SECTION 209. -- WAGES -- EXTENT AND VALUE OF SERVICES](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_63_42c.md)
- [SSR 64-8 SSR 64-8: SECTIONS 209 and 215. -- COMPUTATION OF BENEFITS -- ACCRUED WAGES PAID AFTER WORKER'S DEATH BUT WITHIN YEAR OF DEATH](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_64_8.md)
- [SSR 64-59 SSR 64-59: SECTIONS 209(b), (c), and (e). -- WAGES -- PURCHASE OF ANNUITIES BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES THROUGH VOLUNTARY SALARY REDUCTION PLANS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_64_59.md)
- [SSR 67-41a SSR 67-41a: SECTION 209(g)(1). -- WAGES -- NONCASH PAYMENTS -- DOMESTIC EMPLOYMENT WHEN CHURCH IS THE EMPLOYER](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_67_41a.md)
- [SSR 70-10 SSR 70-10: SECTION 209(h). -- WAGES -- CASH REMUNERATION FOR AGRICULTURAL LABOR -- COUPON BOOKS ISSUED BY EMPLOYER](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_70_10.md)
- [SSR 70-11 SSR 70-11: SECTION 209(h). -- WAGES -- CASH REMUNERATION FOR AGRICULTURAL LABOR -- UNITED STATES SAVINGS BONDS, SERIES E](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_70_11.md)
- [SSR 70-43 SSR 70-43: SECTION 209. -- WAGES -- STATUS OF UNIFORM ALLOWANCES TO EMPLOYEES OF A STATE OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_70_43.md)
- [SSR 72-56 SSR 72-56: SECTION 209(b) and (d) (42 U.S.C. 409(b) AND (d)). -- STATE AND LOCAL COVERAGE -- WAGES -- STATUS OF REMUNERATION PAID TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEES ABSENT FROM WORK DUE TO ILLNESS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_72_56.md)
- [SSR 72-57 SSR 72-57: SECTION 209(g)(2) and 214(a) (42 U.S.C. 409(g)(2) and 414(a)). -- WAGES -- DOMESTIC SERVICE -- IDENTITY OF EMPLOYER -- INSURED STATUS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_72_57.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_61_25. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.
