First Baby Boomer Files For Social Security - Online!
Social Security welcomes baby boomers
Our Social Security Administration's Press Office kindly allowed me to borrow their "First Baby Boomer Files For Social Security-Online!" headline by way of announcing some good news and some bad news to our boomer audience. The good news is that it is now easier than ever to apply for retirement benefits when you become eligible. The bad news is you have to be almost 62 to apply!
A baby boomer dream or a boomer nightmare!?
Can it really be happening?, us guys and gals that grew up in the midst of a sexual and social revolution, vowed to never trust anyone over 30, can it really be true that we have grown old? We fought hard on so many fronts; Viet Nam, Kent State, JFK, Bobby Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Civil Rights, Watergate, Nixon, The Beatles, anti war protesting, rock music, The Women's Movement and the rights of minorities. Can it be that we have survived the worst and now get to reap the rewards of a peaceful and fulfilling retirement? Baby Boomers hung it all out there, changed the world and made it a better place. Music, sexual mores, fashion, religion, politics and yes, even the scandals that kept us entertained, during the turbulent 50's, 60's and 70's all played a part in building our futures. I won't be the first one to play the "O" card because even at 58, I don't feel old, but I was a 19 year-old Marine in Viet Nam in 1969 so you do the math.
All aboard the SS BBB! the baby boomer boat
It may come as old news to some of you by now but during an unusual ceremony hosted by Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, held on October 15, 2007, commemorating the online filing for Social Security Retirement benefits of one Kathleen Casey-Kirschling, the nation's first Baby Boomer. She filed for her Social Security retirement benefits three months prior to her 62nd birthday - in the comfort of her home! This event would be a momentous occasion for any baby boomer but to be the first, ah, that has to be a very special honor, (did you catch the name of Kathy's boat - First Boomer?) Some jealous individual started a rumor that those SS guys gifted her that vessel out of taxpayer money just for being the first boomer? Like what "Mr. October", Reggie Jackson got from George S. when he left the Yankees?, like what the one-billionth customer to Wal-Mart got? Naw, the National Enquirer got their facts confused again, the boring truth is - she earned it!
The baby boomer brigade
Imagine, being thought of as the symbol of all baby boomers, the leader of the baby boomer calvary, marching toward the sounds of the guns and sounding the charge! of the boomer brigade as you lead the "Silver Tsunami" toward the landing beaches held by the SS. (Social Security folks, I am not one of those other people- Semper Fi!) A bit of an over- dramatic analogy I admit but I only said it to illustrate how different the process will be for us baby boomers. Uncle has found the technology and it ain't gonna resemble a "hot" LZ at all. Read on.
Blame the boomers
Some naysayers have been overheard, loudly voicing their opinions, in the halls of The United States Congress no less, that Kathleen Casey-Kirschling only represents the beginning of the end, a "Silver Tsunami" killer wave that will wash over us, drowning our financial system and emptying Uncle Sam's coffers to the last penny, all in a measly 20 years. The sky is falling on the American Empire and we are all looking out for number one when we should be looking for a fix, a national sales tax or some other dumb idea. Baloney! This nonsense comes from panic-stricken Social Security "experts" and reformers who have no faith in the system. Heck, the government has bailed everyone else out over the years, the savings & loan industry, Chrysler and now the mortgage folks, do you think they would let their own system collapse? I am willing to bet not and regret that any negative waves would be directed at one innocent individual, our first baby boomer, (who, by the way, doesn't look old enough to be retired).
Kathy is not Just any ole baby boomer, but the actual, honest to goodness, very first one! Being first at anything is usually considered to be a good thing in this country. As George Patton once proclaimed, "America loves a winner" and our number one baby boomer had the good fortune to be born at one second after midnight on January 1, 1946. As of this writing she should have received her first check, how cool is that!
Social security is on top of it!
The really amazing thing about First Boomer, Kathleen Casey-Kirschling (and terrific news for all baby boomers) is how she managed to avoid the hassles that you would naturally expect to experience when it's your turn to apply for retirement benefits. You know the drill; driving miles from home to some of the worst places in town, usually downtown in the bigger cities, find a place to park, look out for the one-way streets! Find parking and then pay the fee, find the right office and take a NUMBER, Right? Then get as comfortable as you can on a genuine US Govt. (lowest bidder) chair and get ready to finish the Asian Saga of novelist, James Clavell, while you are waiting until your number is called. Then they tell you you're in the wrong line! Hey, you think I'm kidding - it's happened before. That's what causes "office rage".
Baby boomers on the cutting edge
Guess what? my fellow baby boomers, This guy Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security actually saw us boomers coming his way. Not only did he foresee the inherent dangers of the "Silver Tsunami " swamping a supposedly broken system, he was able to get everyone to higher ground and saved the day by being ready with a new technology. Now, all us baby boomers have to do is sit down at a keyboard, log in to our computer and fill out a short form - ONLINE. That's it, no driving, no getting lost on one-way streets, no waiting, no parking fees. Isn't technology grand! Is this the one guy in the US Government that doesn't have his head up his you-know-what?
The commissioner speaks to all baby boomers
“I know how important Social Security benefits are to Americans of all walks of life,” Commissioner Astrue said during the event announcing, “Today, Kathy has reached a personal milestone – she has made the transition from the workforce to retirement. I could not be more pleased that she has chosen to make this transition by filing for her benefits online.” Find out how convenient our SS Administration has made it to apply for benefits and also what Social Security services are available online by going to themoneywillstillbetherewheniretire.com (This is just a cute little URL I made up that will link you directly to the United States Social Security Administration Website - no Ma, it's not a phishing scheme)
10,000 baby boomers a day!
Over the next two decades, nearly 80 million Americans will become eligible for Social Security benefits, with more than 10,000 retirees per day filing for their Social Security benefits. (Oh, and here is a tip from me: Start drawing your benefit as soon as you are eligible, I know, it's a lower amount at the minimum age of 62, but all the experts say to go that route. Of course, if you don't particularly need Social Security benefits as part of your retirement income, by all means, wait to get the higher amount.
The coming of the "silver tsunami"
In order to gird themselves for the tidal wave of new filers, sometimes referred to as the "Silver Tsunami," Social Security has shown the way to "higher ground" by developing a wide-range of convenient and secure online services.“Filing for Social Security benefits online is easy and convenient,” said Ms. Casey-Kirschling. “I urge my fellow Baby Boomers to give Social Security’s online services a try." Hey, if #1 baby boomer says it, it's good enough for me!
When it's this baby boomer's turn!
Much to my surprise, according to the Federal American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) Scorecard, Social Security’s online benefit application has the highest score among all federal websites! (and that's a lot of websites fellow boomers) ACSI notes “Their score of 88 puts them in the elite company of online private sector satisfaction leaders like Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. "Social Security provides economic protection to millions of Americans and their families,” Commissioner Astrue said. “And we remain committed to providing the public with the highest quality service possible. Boomers are a generation of trendsetters and Kathy leads the way by doing business the baby boomer way - with Social Security online.”
View the video of this great occasion here;
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