Ask Ms. Medicare: Social Security Eligibility

Q. My husband retired at age 57 in 2005, after 30 years with the federal government, under the old federal retirement system. He isn’t even close to having 40 work credits for Social Security. Does that mean he’ll have to pay a premium for Part A of Medicare?

A. No. He’ll be eligible for Medicare and receive Part A free of premiums because after the beginning of 1983, when new rules for federal employees were introduced, he paid payroll taxes for Medicare. So even though he doesn’t qualify for Social Security retirement benefits, he’ll be good to go with Medicare when he reaches 65. You, as his wife, will also be eligible for Medicare on his work record, if you don’t qualify on your own record, when you turn 65.

Until 1984 people who worked for the federal government were covered under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and did not pay Social Security taxes on their earnings. From 1984 onward, new hires have been covered by a different program, the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), and they pay into Social Security. Existing employees who switched from CSRS to FERS in 1984 became covered by Social Security. Those who chose to remain in CSRS are still not covered under Social Security and are not eligible for SS retirement benefits. But they do qualify for Medicare through taxes paid on federal earnings.

For more details on Social Security rules that apply to people working in or retired from federal, state or local government agencies, see Information for Government Employees.

Patricia Barry is a senior editor on AARP Bulletin staff.