First Boomer Applies for Social Security

[brooklynite]

Oct 15th, 2007 | WASHINGTON -- The nation's first baby boomer applied for Social Security benefits Monday, signaling the start of an expected avalanche of applications from the post World War II war generation.

Kathleen Casey-Kirschling, a former teacher from New Jersey, applied for benefits over the Internet at an event attended by Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue. Casey-Kirschling, who now lives in Maryland, was born one second after midnight on Jan. 1, 1946, making her the first baby boomer — a generation of nearly 80 million born from 1946 to 1964, Astrue said.

Casey-Kirschling will be eligible for benefits after she turns 62 next year.

An estimated 10,000 people a day will become eligible for Social Security benefits over the next two decades, Astrue said.

http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/2007/10/15/D8S9SELO2_boomer_social_security/index.html

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Sigh! Get it while you can . . .

Something tells me I'm not retiring . . .

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tigereye]

you have to remember that boomers put a lot of money into the pot....

that helped others over time.

each one reach one, you could say.

[Radical Activist]

7. Boomers put money into the general budget

that paid for a lot of things. SS is a horrible tax that's both regressive and soon it will punish the young because they're an easier political target.

[tigereye]

10. most of we boomers won't get much anyway

anyone who depends on SS when they retire will have trouble in their financial future.


Everyone should be (should have been) putting big parts of their pay into IRAS, the stock market, what have you.

[TransitJohn]

11. Except for that

very few people have any money left after the necessities for such frivolities as savings.

[tigereye]

15. I always told folks that worked for me when I was a manager that even if

you put 5-10- 25 dollars away per pay, it's a start. Always pay yourself first.

I realize with many jobs that is hard. But a lot of workplaces have worker match, so sometimes you double the money you put into a 401 K at work.

[TransitJohn]

17. I wish I could afford that.

My $46000.00 in student loans accrue at $3.10 per day. My mortgage is $957.38 per month. Truck payment, various insurances, etc., etc., adds up. I make $56000.00 per year as a petroleum geologist, and can barely make ends meet. Just glad my daughter has good health, as do I. Had to skip the home football game her last Saturday, it was homecoming, because I couldn't squeeze out the $42 for a youth and adult ticket for the kid and myself. Oh well. I'm thinking the cable is getting turned off for the winter, because the electric bills tend to run over $200 per month November-March. Enough of my whining. The thing is...I wish I could squeeze out $5 per day to set aside, but that is my beer money.

[tigereye]

19. yeah, things cost a lot

it was easier for me to put money away when I had no kid, no school fees, no mortgage, no taxes, no office rent, etc. :(

And I went to school when school and grad school were relatively cheap.

I don't know what the answer is, I still get 401 k match from when I worked full-time even though I work part-time now, and it's still something.


But it does seem that if things are difficult for people now, people with educations and decent jobs, how will people be able to afford to retire?

[TransitJohn]

23. Easy

:sarcasm: It's too depressing to think about. I just wonder how in the hell I'll be able to come up with the thousands that whatever college my daughter chooses to go to decides that I can afford.

[Didereaux]

13. ya know junior.................GenXer indeed!

Every one of us 'boomers' paid into the pot, many of twice as many years as you are old probably. SocSec started in the 30's, long before we were born, so we have been paying all our lives. And guess what junior, try taking out 5% of a paycheck that is based on $1.50 an hourm compare that to 8% of a paycheck 20 or more times that. Quit sniveling.

It needn't be said I suppose, but you really should alter post sufficiently so that it isn't an exact match of the Dittohead Manifesto!

---edited subject line----

[Radical Activist]

27. Awww...you even through in some old fogey condenscending langauge.

How charmingly stereotypical.
No amount of money that babyboomers paid into the general budget through the SS tax justifies a punishing regressive tax targeted at young workers who on-average have lower incomes than seniors and don't have the luxury of health insurance.
There's nothing Republican about pointing out that a poor generation that is least likely to have health care is being taxed regressively to subsidize a much richer generation. Its ridiculous.

[Justitia]

18. Wow, a poster against Soc Sec & Medicare, you don't see that too often here.

The "regressive" aspect of Soc Sec you mention is effectively negated by the progressive pymt of benefits to recipients. The average worker usually gains back every penny he's ever paid into Soc Sec after 7 yrs. Most recipients collect Soc Sec for far longer than 7 yrs.

So, if you hate Soc Sec & Medicare, are you for bringing back the sick and elderly poor?

[Radical Activist]

26. I guess a Gen X perspective on this issue isn't allowed at DU.

I don't see why my other comment was deleted.
I didn't write that I was against SS and Medicare. I disagree with the regressive way those programs are funded.

[HockeyMom]

3. I won't get a DIME

I have worked. I have paid into SS for more than 40 years. However, I am MARRIED. My husband over the years has made much more than me. So, I will have to choose - his or mine. I will NEVER be able to collect what I HAVE paid into it for all these years. All the money I HAVE PAID into SS will be gone.

Sucks to be a married working woman.

[DURHAM D]

9. Is your husband deceased?

If not, why won't you get your SS?

[maddezmom]

24. my mom is collecting hers (started at 65) and my dad is still working(68).

is there a reason why you think you'll have to chose or not get any at all?

[sandnsea]

8. We paid our retirement

Bush gave it away to the rich. You're anger is justified as long as you've got it pointed in the right direction.

[DURHAM D]

12. I know exactly how you feel.

I am well over 60 and still paying in. I have been paying into the system for over 45 years in order to support the so-called greatest generation.

Both of my parents are still around and each has been drawing benefits for 27 years. For 25 of those years their SS checks were drawn from funds they did not place there.

The nice thing about my parents is that they both understand the math and always raise a toast to their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren at the family gatherings for our contribution to their well being.

They also never fail to thank us for their universal health care - a program started in 1966. My Mother paid nothing into it and my Dad paid in for only 13 years.

My family refers to the middle class entitlements for the Greatest Generation as "the longest thank you note ever written".

[OHdem10]

4. Keep in Mind -- Alan Greenspan --SS is not the Problem

Medicare is.

OnMTP, Greenspan explained SS can easily be fixed.

[SharonAnn]

5. And Medicare is a problem because of out of control health care costs.

[flpoljunkie]

6. The media needs to do a better job with this fact, cause the Rethugs keep lying!

[valerief]

14. the media = the rethugs! nt

[SergeyDovlatov]

28. Yep. Greenspan already fixed SS once

Cut the benefit, extend retirement age and raise the taxes.
With just those three simple tools you can ensure that SS will be solvent for eternity.

Whether you can live on it, that is a different question.

[question everything]

16. Oh, she applied. But will not get it until January

I was curious about that bit of news. Thanks for clearing this.

Does this mean that all of us need to apply some 2.5 months before we turn 62 (if we want to start drawing at 62)? That it takes 2.5 months to process the application?

[DURHAM D]

20. She is taking the 20% penalty by retiring at 62 -

that means she has other means of support.

Damn, I forgot to get married.

[question everything]

25. Yes, we are planning on retiring at 65, or so

but will plan on first tapping the IRAs and 401Ks and hope to delay applying to Social Security until 70.

[smalll]

21. I don't begrudge them their Social Security, but I do worry about their power -

the Baby Boomers as offical "senior citizens!" Bad things will happen (like Dennis Hopper in those excruciatingly painful "financial planning" ads around right now.) In 20 years, the speed limit on the highways will be 45 mph. Being able to eat dinner at 4:30 in the afternoon will become a civil right: all restaurants of all kinds will be required to be open and serving dinner (not lunch!) from that time onwards. Pornogaphers will have to abide by strict new anti-ageism laws in their casting decisions. Just you wait for it!:scared:

[itsrobert]

22. I was born in Dec 1963. I'm not a baby boomer

I don't care what anyone says.thank you.