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as the Board may prescribe, to have such lump sum be paid in lieu of all benefits to which such widow, widower, or parent might otherwise become entitled under this Act on the basis of the deceased employee's compensation and years of service or under the Social Security Act on the basis of the deceased employee's wages from (A) employment with an employer as defined in section 1(a) of this Act or (B) service as an employee representative as defined in section 1(c) of this Act. Any election made and filed by a widow, widower, or parent pursuant to this subdivision shall be legally effective according to its terms.

(2) The lump sum provided under subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be in an amount equal to (A) the sum of 4 per centum of the deceased employee's compensation paid after December 31, 1936, and prior to January 1, 1947, plus 7 per centum of such employee's compensation paid after December 31, 1946, and before January 1, 1959, plus 72 per centum of such employee's compensation paid after December 31, 1958, and before January 1, 1962, plus 8 per centum of such employee's compensation paid after December 31, 1961, and before January 1, 1966, plus an amount equal to the total of all employee taxes payable by such employee after December 31, 1965, and before January 1, 1975, under the provisions of section 3201 of the Railroad Retirement Tax Act (excluding, for this purpose, the amount of the employee tax attributable to that portion of the tax rate derived from section 3101 (b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954), plus one-half of 1 per centum of the compensation on which such taxes were payable, deeming the compensation attributable to creditable military service after June 30, 1963, and before January 1, 1975, to be taxable compensation, and one-half of the taxes payable by an employee representative under section 3211 of the Railroad Retirement Tax Act to be employee taxes under section 3201 of such Act, minus (B) the sum of all benefits paid to such employee, and to others deriving from such employee, during his or her life, or to others by reason of his or her death, under this Act, the Railroad Retirement Act of 1937, or the Social Security Act (excluding, for this purpose, payments to providers of services under section 7 (d) of this Act or section 21 of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1937, any amounts by which that portion of the annuities provided the employee under section 3 (a) of this Act or his spouse under section 4(a) of this Act were increased by reason of the employee's wages and self-employment income derived from employment and self-employment under the Social Security Act, that portion of the annuities provided the employee under section 3(h) of this Act or his spouse under section 4(e) of this Act, and so much of the benefits paid to the employee and to others deriving from him or her under the Social Security Act during his or her lifetime as would have been payable under that Act if such employee had not rendered service as an employee as defined in section 1(b) of this Act). In computing compensation for purposes of this subdivision there shall be excluded compensation in excess of $300 for any month before July 1, 1954; compensation in excess of $350 for any month after June 30, 1954, and before June 1, 1959; compensation in excess of $400 for any month after May 31, 1959, and before November 1, 1963; compensation in excess of $150 for any month after October 31,

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1963, and before October 1, 1965; and compensation in excess of (i) $450 or (ii) an amount equal to one-twelfth of the current maximum annual taxable 'wages' as defined in section 3121 of the Internal Reve nue Code of 1954, whichever is greater, for any month after September 30, 1965.

"(d) (1) Every individual who will have completed ten years of service at the time of his retirement or death, but does not meet the qualifications for an annuity amount determined under the provisions of section 3(h) (1) or 3(h) (2) of this Act, shall, at the time his annuity under section 2(a) (1) begins to accrue, be entitled to a lump sum in the amount provided under subdivision (2) of this subsection. If an individual otherwise eligible for a lump sum under this section dies before he becomes entitled to an annuity under section 2(a)(1) of this Act, or before he receives payment of such lump sum, such lump sum shall be payable to the person, if any, who is determined by the Board to be such individual's widow or widower and who will not have died before receiving payment of such lump sum. If there be no such widow or widower, such lump sum shall be payable to the children, grandchildren, parents, brothers and sisters, or the estate of the deceased individual in the same manner as if such lump sum were a lump sum payable under subsection (c) (1) of this section.

"(2) The lump sum provided under subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be in an amount equal to the sum of (A) 1.5 per centum of so much of such individual's combined earnings for any calendar year after 1950 and before 1954 as is in excess of $3,600, plus (B) 2 per centum of so much of such individual's combined earnings for any calendar year after 1953 and before 1957 as is in excess of $4,200, plus (C) 2.25 per centum of so much of such individual's combined earnings for any calendar year after 1956 and before 1959 as is in excess of $4.200, plus (D) 2.5 per centum of so much of such individual's combined earnings for the calendar year 1959 as is in excess of $4,500, plus (E) 3 per centum of so much of such individual's combined earnings for each of the calendar years 1960 and 1961 as is in excess of $1,800, plus (F) 3.125 per centum of so much of such individual's combined earnings for the calendar year 1962 as is in excess of $4,500, plus (G) 3.625 per centum of so much of such individual's combined earnings for any calendar year after 1962 and before 1966 as is in excess of $5,400, plus (H) 4.2 per centum of so much of such individual's combined earnings for the calendar year 1966 as is in excess of $6,600, plus (I) 4.4 per centum of so much of such individual's combined earnings for the calendar year 1967 as is in excess of $6,600, plus (J) 3.8 per centum of so much of such individual's combined earnings for the calendar year 1968 as is in excess of $7,800, plus (K) 4.2 per centum of so much of such individual's combined earnings for each of the calendar years 1969 and 1970 as is in excess of $7.800, plus (L) 4.6 per centum of so much of such individual's combined earnings for the calendar year 1971 as is in excess of $7,800, plus (M) 4.6 per centum of so much of such individual's combined earnings for the calendar year 1972 as is in excess of $9,000, plus (N) 4.85 per centum. of so much of such individual's combined earnings for the calendar year 1973 as is in excess of $10,800, plus (O) 4.95 per centum of so much of such individual's combined earnings for the calendar year

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1974 as is in excess of $13,200. For purposes of this subsection, the term 'combined earnings' shall include compensation' as defined in section 1(h) of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1937, 'wages' as defined in section 209 of the Social Security Act, and 'self-employment' income as defined in section 211(b) of the Social Security Act.

"POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD

"SEC. 7. (a) This Act shall be administered by the Railroad Retirement Board established by the Railroad Retirement Act of 1937 as an independent agency in the executive branch of the Government and composed of three members appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Each member shall hold office for a term of five years, except that any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of the term and any member holding office pursuant to appointment under the Railroad Retirement Act of 1937 when this Act becomes effective shall hold office until the term for which he was appointed under such Railroad Retirement Act of 1937 expires. One member shall be appointed from recommendations made by representatives of the employees and one member shall be appointed from recommendations made by representatives of employers as defined in paragraph (1) of section 1 (a) (1) of this Act, in both cases as the President shall direct, so as to provide representation on the Board satisfactory to the largest number, respectively, of employees and employers concerned. One member, who shall be the chairman of the Board, shall be appointed without recommendation by either employers or employees and shall not be in the employment of or be pecuniarily or otherwise interested in any employer or organization of employees. Vacancies in the Board shall not impair the powers or affect the duties of the Board or of the remaining members of the Board, of whom a majority of those in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Upon the expiration of his term of office a member shall continue to serve until his successor is appointed and shall have qualified.

"(b) (1) The Board shall have and exercise all the duties and powers necessary to administer this Act. The Board shall take such steps as may be necessary to enforce such Act and make awards and certify payments. Decisions by the Board upon issues of law and fact relating to annuities or death benefits shall not be subject to review by any other administrative or accounting officer, agent, or employee of the United States.

"(2) In the case of

"(A) an individual who will have completed ten years of service creditable under this Act,

"(B) the wife or husband of such an individual,

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any survivor of such an individual if such survivor is entitled, or could upon application become entitled, to an annuity under section 2 of this Act, and

"(D) any other person entitled to benefits under title II of the Social Security Act on the basis of the wages and self-employment income of such an individual (except a survivor of such an

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individual where such individual did not have a current connection with the railroad industry at the time of his death),

the Board shall provide for the payment on behalf of the Managing Trustee of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund of monthly benefits payable under title II of the Social Security Act which are certified by the Secretary to it for payment under the provisions of title II of the Social Security Act..

"(3) If the Board finds that an applicant is entitled to an annuity or death benefit under the provisions of this Act then the Board shall make an award fixing the amount of the annuity or benefit, as the case may be, and shall certify the payment thereof as hereinafter provided; otherwise the application shall be denied. For purposes of this section, the Board shall have and exercise such of the powers, duties and remedies provided in subsections (a), (b), (d), and (n) of section 12 of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act as are not inconsistent with the express provisions of this Act. The Board is authorized to delegate to any member, officer, or employee of the Board any of the powers conferred upon the Board by the Act, excluding only the power to prescribe rules and regulations, including the power to make decisions on applications for annuities or other benefits: Provided, however, That any person aggrieved by a decision on his application for an annuity or other benefit shall have the right to appeal to the Board. Notice of a decision of the Board, or of an employee thereof, shall be communicated to the applicant in writing within thirty days after such decision shall have been made.

"(4) The Board shall from time to time certify to the Secretary of the Treasury the name and address of each individual entitled to receive a payment, the amount of such payment, and the time at which it should be made, and the Secretary of the Treasury through the Division of Disbursements of the Treasury Department, and prior to audit by the General Accounting Office, shall make payment in accordance with the certification by the Board.

"(5) The Board shall establish and promulgate rules and regulations to provide for the adjustment of all controversial matters arising in the administration of this Act. All rules, regulations, or decisions of the Board shall require the approval of at least two members, and they shall be entered upon the records of the Board, which shall be a public record.

"(6) The Board shall gather, keep, compile, and publish in convenient form such records and data as may be necessary to assure proper administration of this Act, including subdivision (2) of this subsection. The Board shall have power to require all employers and employees and any officer, board, commission, or other agency of the United States to furnish such information and records as shall be necessary for the administration of this Act, including subdivision (2) of this subsection. The several district courts of the United States and the District Court of the United States for the District of Columbia shall have jurisdiction upon suit by the Board to compel obedience to any order of the Board issued pursuant to this section. The orders, writs, and processes of the District Court of the United States for the District of Columbia in such suits may run and be served anywhere in

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the United States. Witnesses summoned before the Board shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the district courts of the United States. The Board shall make an annual report to the President of the United States to be submitted to Congress.

"(7) The Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare shall furnish the Board certified reports of wages, self-employment income, and periods of service and of other records in his possession, or which he may secure, pertinent to the administration of this Act. The Board shall furnish the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare certified reports of records of compensation and periods of service reported to it pursuant to section 9 of this Act, of determinations under section 2 of this Act, and of other records in its possession, or which it may secure, pertinent to subsection (c) of this section or to the administration of the Social Security Act as affected by section 18 of this Act. Such certified reports shall be conclusive in adjudication as to the matters covered therein: Provided, however, That if the Board or the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare receives evidence inconsistent with a certified report and the application involved is still in course of adjudication or otherwise open for such evidence such recertification of such report shall be made as, in the judgment of the Board or the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, whichever made the original certification, the evidence warrants. Such recertification and any subsequent recertification shall be treated in the same manner and be subject to the same conditions as an original certification.

"(8) Any department or agency of the United States maintaining records of military service, at the request of the Board, shall certify to the Board, with respect to any individual, the number of months of military service which such department or agency finds the individual to have had during any period or periods with respect to which the Board's request is made, the date and manner of entry into such military service, and the conditions under which such service was continued. Any department or agency of the United States which is authorized to make awards of pensions, disability compensation, or any other gratuitous benefits or allowances payable, on a periodic basis or otherwise, under any other Act of Congress on the basis of military service, at the request of the Board, shall certify to the Board, with respect to any individual, the calendar months for all or part of which any such pension, compensation, benefit, or allowance is payable to, or with respect to, the individual, the amounts of any such pension, compensation, benefit, or allowance, and the military service on which such pension, compensation, benefit, or allowance is based. Any certification made pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision shall be conclusive on the Board: Provided, however, That if evidence inconsistent with any such certification is submitted, and the claim is in the course of adjudication or is otherwise open for such evidence, the Board shall refer such evidence to the department or agency which made the original certification and such department or agency shall make such recertification as in its judgment the evidence warrants. Such recertification, and any subsequent recertification, shall be conclusive, made in the same manner, and subject to the same conditions as an original certification.

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