The following definitions are used in this part:

Applicant means a person who signs an application for an annuity or lump sum for himself or herself or for some other person.

Application refers only to a form described in Sec. 217.6.

Apply or file means to sign a form or statement that the Railroad Retirement Board accepts as an application.

Award means to process a form to make a payment. An annuity is awarded on the date the payment form is processed.

Claimant means a person who files for an annuity or lump sum for himself or herself or the person for whom an application is filed.