§375.2. National emergency and effective date. — Inbound Citations

(a) The Railroad Retirement Board has adopted a plan to provide basic organization and methods of operation that may be needed to continue uninterrupted service during a period of national emergency as defined in § 375.2.

(a) During a national emergency, as defined in § 375.2, the respective functions and responsibilities of the Board shall be to the extent possible as set forth in the U.S. Government Manual, which is published annually by the Office of the Federal Register.

(1) In a national emergency, as defined in § 375.2, the RRB shall maximize use of acquisition flexibilities for emergency acquisitions as allowed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation at 48 CFR part 18.

(1) In a national emergency as defined in § 375.2, applications for and development and certification of claims for retirement, disability, and survivor benefits shall be to the extent possible as set forth in subchapter B of this chapter, except that:

(i) Standards of evidence may be relaxed, although legal requirements for entitlement to payments shall remain unchanged;

(ii) In determining relationships, employment, birth, death, etc., consideration shall be given to the information possessed by the applicants and beneficiaries or the Board office adjudicating a claim;

(iii) If prescribed forms are not available, any writing that contains substantially the necessary information shall be acceptable; and

(iv) In a national emergency when the headquarters office is inoperable, the development and certification of claims shall be assumed by the district offices.

(a) In a national emergency, as described in § 375.2, employers shall continue to follow, to the greatest extent possible, the requirements pertaining to employers in subchapters A, B, and C of this chapter.