First U.S. baby boomer applies for Social Security

[unhappycamper]

First U.S. baby boomer applies for Social Security
Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:17pm EDT


WASHINGTON, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Retired school teacher Kathleen Casey-Kirschling on Monday became the first ripple in a "silver tsunami" of retiring baby boomers applying for pension benefits that threatens to overwhelm U.S. government finances.

Casey-Kirschling was born one second after midnight on Jan. 1, 1946, and will receive her first Social Security check in February 2008 as the first wave of baby boomers turns 62 next year and becomes eligible for early retirement benefits.

Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue said the agency is bracing for some 80 million Americans to apply for retirement benefits over the next two decades.

"We are already feeling enormous pressure from baby boomers being in their peak disability years and now we're preparing for so many of them to file for retirement," Astrue said at a press conference with Casey-Kirschling.

The system also includes benefits for disabled workers.

Part of that preparation is to encourage boomers to apply for benefits online at www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices. Astrue said the roughly 40 minutes it takes to apply from home is more convenient and less time-consuming than traveling to the local Social Security office.


Rest if article at: http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN15383509



uhc comment: I applied yesterday & my first Social Security check is due to arrive in November 2007.

[HereSince1628]

1. I like Bebee Boomarrz...

I just can't eat a whole one by myself.

I hope the coming fury just remembers that 65 is the nu 50 so we not only have transferrable assets, we also come with lots of calories and some workable replacement parts to be had on the very cheap--even free--since they are putting little red coupons for them in specially marked yellow boxes of Soylent Green.

S.G. Flakes--They're Great!

Com'n give it to Mikey--he'll try ANYTHING! Hey Look, He LIKES them!