I filed for Social Security for the first time a couple of months ago - let me tell you about it.

[ThomWV]

I became eligible for Social Security in March but didn't get to the local office to file until April. Although most of my working life was in private industry the last 20+ years were with the Federal Government, and yes, I did pay into the Social Security System during all of my Government service. I tell you that for perspective; to indicate that I am well aware of what Government service is like.

My experience with the Social Security system was surprisingly - no, let me say amazingly - good. An appointment was made for me within 24 hours of calling the office. When I arrived there was virtually no wait time; I was assigned to one of their specialists the moment I walked up to the window and escorted to his cubicle moments later. The fellow, who was quite cordial, walked me through the entire process, gave me his most pessimistic as well as realistic estimates as to how long I'd have to wait, and despite a downed national computer system at the moment I was in the chair he promised to get all of my information into the system as soon as it came back up - which he most certainly did after I left.

So I spent my half hour at the office and came home with my doubts. I had doubts for exactly 4 days, at which time I got a notification from my bank that a deposit had been made in the amount of the previous month's SS check (my first) which was about a third larger than I had expected. That was followed up a week later with my first regularly scheduled payment.

So in short the service I got from Social Security was truly outstanding in every way that I, as a first time customer with grave reservations about the service, didn't ever expect to get. I consider this to be a good indicator of what we can expect once there is Federal involvement in our health care financing, no matter how much Republican bullshit is spread about the inefficiencies of Government Service. Public employees provide damn good service - Period!