Our plan (might change of course)
TheHusbandHalf worked for the railroad a little over 10 years in our first years of marriage. He paid what they call Tier 1 and Tier 2. I think Tier 1 is like social security.
That Tier 2 payment gives him (last checked 4 months ago) $500/mo, and is paid with his Social Security check. So, he will get 36,000 at FRA, I will get half of that 2 years later, total 54,000.
He plans to stop working Jan 4 2019 At the time, he will have had that employer 28 years and will be 62 1/2. Between then and his FRA, we will use the money I got from a car accident to live, and to convert as much tIRA to Roth. The accident money is capitial gains and this is where I won't say anymore because I don't fully understand it. We will get health, dental insurance through his employer and (something I made him check) I will still be covered if something happens to him, say at 63 or 64. His medical insurance as a retiree: the company pays half and he is one of the highest seniority employees so the company pays another 30%. So, he will pay 20% of whatever the insurance is at the time..
When he stops working he will get his pension in a lump sum and it will go in his tIRA
I have DNA on my mother's and father's side that lead me to believe I will go on into my mid 90's. He, mid 80's. This is why we are waiting until his FRA, because it might be 35 years that we get SS. If not, oh well. He has over 35 years of paying into SS or equivalent, so those 4 years of not working will not bring his monthly SS check down.
Something interesting, at least to me:
His brother worked for the railroad all his working days. In that case, a rr retiree gets Railroad Retirement, not SS. He is allowed, and did, retire at 60. He gets 7000 per month, his wife gets half. I'm not sure that all is worth the wear and tear on his body, but I say, Good for them!