Birthday presents @66

Back in the mid-80s, some politicians 'saved' Social Security which shuffled my retirement benefits around:

• Dec 11, 2014 - started drawing two pensions, GE and Boeing, and dropped employer health care for Medicare part A and B
  • Unfortunately, making over $85k/year, I have to pay ~$150/month premium on the part B. It would have been wiser to keep the 'free' employer health care and get a letter of 'continuous coverage' when I eventually leave. Just a word to the wise.
  • However, joint income less than $170k/year, means we should drop both Part B premiums this year. Something to negotiate with Social Security.
• Dec 11, 2015 - submitted Social Security application with my first payment, January 2015:
  • My wife is seeing a boost in her Social Security (I married a 'cougar') so she'll nearly double her monthly check. As was explained to me, this is in addition to, not a reduction from my payment.
    • It is about as much as the FICA taken out of my paycheck
  • My monthly Social Security check will be the same as last year's 'annual salary raise.'
• Declined to wait for age 70 with an 8% increase per year for each deferred year:
  • Wait 1 year to 67, 8% raise means parity in 12.5 years, age 79.5
    
  • Wait 2 years to 68, 16% raise means parity in 6.25 years, age 75.25 (optimum)
    
  • Wait 3 years to 69, 24% raise means parity in 4.17 years, age 76.17
    
  • Wait 4 years to 70, 32% raise means parity in 3.12 years, age 77.12
• Grandfathers and uncles typically die mid-80s in my parent's families, grandmothers lasted until their 90s.

So I sent a note to my manager with the subject, "I'm not dead yet (Monty Python)" and explained I have no interest in leaving until: (1) we get a summer intern in to train, and (2) no sooner than the Fall of 2016. As long as I'm doing good work, keep on but let's not have one of these 'one week hand-overs.'

It is a happy birthday because I know my wife is taken care of and I walk into work hearing Johnny Paycheck:

Bob Wilson