The long wait is over, sixty years after the war has ended in 1946, the first Baby Boomer has filed her Social Security retirement application. Social Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue has announced this information at an event last October 15, 2007.
Kathleen Casey-Kirschling has filed her petition online. According to Astrue, Ms. Casey-Kirschling will be entitled of her retirement benefits beginning January 2008, sixty-one years after her birth. The commissioner also expressed his gratitude that Kathleen utilized the online application program of the Social Security Administration.
This milestone in the history of the U.S Social Security commenced the long expected growth in the number of Social Security applicants. It was foreseen that around 80 million Americans would be filing for their retirement benefits for at least the next twenty years. This means approximately ten thousand individuals would likely be eligible for such Social Security benefits.
Although the SSA reiterated their assurance that they have done all the necessary preparations for this occurrence, many still doubt if they can prevent large backlogs. In fact, thousands of people are still waiting for the approval of their application in some states in the U.S.
Social Security benefits are indeed important for most of our country’s population. A number of them even rely on their monthly checks to support their daily living. If the SSA fails to cope up with the increase in number among the Social Security applicants, chances are, many of our people would die before their petitions are finally approved.
Now, for those who belong to the Baby Boomer generation, I do suggest that let us give the SSA a chance to prove their capability. Anyway, we have nothing else to do than just wait and trust them.
