When Can My 55 Year Old Wife Start Her Railroad Retirement Survivor Annuity If I Pass?
Video Survivor Benefits Retirement Financial PlanningWelcome to another edition of the Highball Advisors Railroad Retirement Mailbag! I’m John McNamara with Highball Advisors, and today’s question comes from Mark R. First off—thank you, Mark, for the kind words about the videos. Much appreciated.
Mark writes: “I have 32 years of railroad service and I’m 58 years old. If I were to pass away tomorrow, when would my 55-year-old wife be eligible to collect survivor benefits?”
Great question, Mark—and congratulations on 32 years of service. That’s an outstanding accomplishment.
As for your wife’s survivor annuity: generally, she would be eligible to begin collecting at age 60, unless she’s caring for a minor or disabled child. That’s the key exception that could allow for earlier benefits.
In the meantime, this gap between your passing and her eligibility age is something worth planning for. You might consider whether a life insurance policy could help bridge that period, depending on your overall financial picture.
If you're interested in diving deeper, be sure to check out my video: “What You Need to Know About Your Survivor Annuity in Railroad Retirement.” It covers many of the nuances that can come into play.
Railroaders, I hope you found this video helpful. Keep those questions coming—I’ll continue making videos to get you the answers you need.
Until next time, stay safe, stay on track, and take care. So long, everybody!
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