Once you’ve made the decision to retire, register to attend one of Sandia’s monthly group retirement briefings. The 90-minute sessions cover retirement benefits, choosing a retirement date, health premiums, and the corporate separation process. Take advantage of the Q&A period to get answers to any questions you may have.

As you focus on retirement planning, make sure you also understand your Social Security and Medicare options.

Get answers to all your Medicare questions. Even if you’re not Medicare-eligible yet, it’s good to know how your Sandia medical benefits (if you are eligible for them) will coordinate with Medicare, so you better understand the financial impact of your healthcare costs in retirement. For everything you need to know about Medicare, visit medicare.gov. There, you can create an online account, find information about health and drug plans, locate providers and sign up for automatic alerts so that you stay up to speed on the latest Medicare news and updates. You can also access the 2025 Medicare and You handbook.

If you’d prefer to speak with someone, call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227). TTY users can call 877-486-2048.

Specific strategies for how and when to take Social Security depend on your individual circumstances. The sooner you take your benefit, the lower the amount you will receive, but you will receive benefits for a longer period. Conversely, if you wait until full retirement age or later, your monthly benefit increases. You may be entitled to spousal benefits even if you’re divorced and remarried, or survivor benefits if you outlive your spouse.

Learn more. Speak with your local Social Security office and/or a financial professional to determine what’s best for you. To estimate your Social Security benefit, determine when to apply for benefits and explore more information, visit ssa.gov. You can subscribe to the Social Security Administration’s blog and follow them on social media.