We are issuing these final rules to conform our regulations to a self-implementing provision in current law that affects benefit coordination between the Railroad Retirement Act and title II of the Social Security Act. The amendments modified a Railroad Retirement Act requirement involving the period of service in the railroad industry needed to satisfy certain annuity eligibility requirements. We refer to that requirement herein as the "vesting requirement." For affected persons, this provision established a Railroad Retirement Act vesting requirement of 5 or more years of service, all of which accrue after December 31, 1995, as an alternative to the existing vesting requirement of 10 years of service. As a result of this provision, certain railroad workers who meet the alternative 5-year vesting requirement, and other affected persons, will now receive benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act rather than under title II of the Social Security Act. The amendments made by this provision were effective on or after January 1, 2002, for all individuals in the affected categories. Railroad retirement benefits payable on the basis of this provision are not retroactive and are not payable for months prior to January 2002, but are payable beginning January 1, 2002, to those with 5 years of service after 1995. Railroad employees previously denied benefits for insufficient service would have to file a new application for railroad benefits in order to be considered under the new vesting rules.