For fiscal year 1997, the average annuity was $1,762 per month for employees retiring at age 60 with 30 years of railroad service.

Here’s the Railroad Retirement Board’s estimates for the BMWE 55/30 plan with no equity for widows:

• If born in 1960, you would get:

• Tier 1: $1,000
• Reduction (42.6%) - 426
• Net Tier 1 $ 574
• Tier 2: + 500
• TOTAL $1,074

Your spouse would get:

• Tier 1 (50% of Tier 1): $ 500
• Reduction (46.7%): - 233
• Net Tier 1: $ 266
• Tier 2 (45% of Tier 2): + 255
• TOTAL $ 491

You and spouse would lose:

• You Lose Monthly: - 426.00
• Your Spouse Loses: - 233.50
• Total Monthly Loss: - 659.50
• TOTAL Yearly LOSS - $7,914
  
• If born between 1943-1954:

• Tier 1: $1,000
• Reduction (42.6%) - 385
• Net Tier 1 $ 615
• Tier 2: + 500
• TOTAL $1,115

Your spouse would get:

• Tier 1 (50% of Tier 1): $ 500
• Reduction (46.7%): - 213
• Net Tier 1: $ 287
• Tier 2 (45% of Tier 2): + 225
• TOTAL $ 512

You and spouse would lose:

• You Lose Monthly: - 385
• Your Spouse Loses: - 213
• Total Monthly Loss: - 598
• TOTAL Yearly LOSS - $7,176

The figures above were obtained from the Railroad Retirement Board and prepared at the request of railroad unions.

• For ease of illustration, it was assumed that the employee was entitled to a Tier 
  1 of $1,000, and a Tier 2 of $500.
  
• Only 40% of railroad employees earned their Tier 2 maximum.
  
• Assumes a railroad employee had the maximum Tier 2 creditable compensation 
  for the 5-year period ending in 1998, and had 30 years of railroad service, 
  his/her Tier 2 would be $826.35 per month.