First Baby Boomer Files For Social Security – Online!

Posted January 29th, 2008 at 8:06 pm in Boomer RVer Trivia

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!

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.

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? Wrong again oh rumor mongers, she earned it!

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.