Can My Wife Start Her Railroad Retirement While I Keep Working for the Railroad?

Welcome to another edition of the Highball Advisors Railroad Retirement Mailbag! I'm John McNamara from Highball Advisors, and today's question comes from Mr. Jacob. He asks, "My spouse is seven years older than me. Can she collect railroad retirement benefits before she turns 60? I’m 53 with 32 years of service. Can I continue working until 60?"

First, congratulations on reaching 32 years of service at such a young age! That gives you plenty of options moving forward. While you don't necessarily have to work until 60, that's something you can decide later.

Regarding your spouse, she can't begin collecting a spousal annuity until you start receiving your railroad retirement benefits, which can be as early as 60. She may want to explore Social Security as an early option, depending on whether she has her own earnings record. If she does, she could transition to the spousal railroad retirement benefits later.

For more details, check out my video on spouse benefits for railroad retirement, which covers this topic in depth.

I hope you found this video helpful! Railroaders, feel free to send in your questions, and I’ll create a video response. Until next time, stay safe, stay on track, and take care. So long, everyone!

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Disclaimer: This article is provided for general information and illustration purposes only. Nothing contained in the material constitutes tax advice, a recommendation for purchase or sale of any security, or investment advisory services. Highball Advisors encourages you to consult a financial planner, accountant, and/or legal counsel for advice specific to your situation. Reproduction of this material is prohibited without written permission from Highball Advisors, and all rights are reserved from Highball Advisors, and all rights are reserved.