I am a railway worker and turned 66 in December of 2017, I am still working for the railroad. My wife is 65 and has decided to file for her SS benefits. Will my tier 1 benefits be reduced if I file for spousal benefits from my wife's SS?

Hi,

If you are receiving Railroad Retirement (RR) benefits and you file for Social Security (SS) spousal benefits, then yes the RR Board (RRB) will reduce your tier 1 RR benefits by the amount of your SS spousal benefits.

However, it may still be advantageous for you to start drawing SS now if you aren't yet receiving RR benefits or if your SS benefit amount would be higher than your tier 1 RR benefit rate. You may want to discuss this with a representative from the RRB. Our maximization software can help you determine your best strategy with regard to Social Security benefits, but is not programmed to handle RR benefits.

Best, Jerry