I love those Social Security people!

[Raven]

I have said this before. The Social Security Administration is big government at it's best. I filed for retirement about a month ago and have had nothing but pleasant experiences with everyone I've dealt with. There was a bit of a wrinkle with some retirement pay I took 30 years ago when I left a job in Massachusetts and I had to get a letter from that state's retirement system. The SSA has called me to follow up saying "we don't want your benefits delayed, do you need help getting that letter?" These people treat you like you are their only concern. Remarkable.I keep the names and am going to try to figure out where to write to praise them.

[old mark]

1. Me, too! I applied online 3 months before my 62nd birthday, and got my first deposit

in my checking account at 8:30 AM on the day I was supposed to get it...never been late or short or had any problems with it at all.

Hoping Medicare works this well in a few years when I can get that, too.

FWIW, check this organization: http://www.ncpssm.org/

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare...I joined a few months ago, and I believe it is a great group to belong to.

mark

[RedCloud]

2. but, but, but the gummint is our enemy. Ray Gunn told us that!

[retread]

3. My experience mirrors yours.

[Blue Diadem]

4. Same here Raven. They were incredibly fast with changing over

my sis-in-law's social security amount to my brother's after he passed away. They'd set up a phone appointment on a Friday and by the following Tuesday morning, on her normal SS deposit day, it had already increased to the higher amount and it also included the death benefit too.

[RobinA]

5. I Deal With SS

as part of my job. They are very good if you play strictly by their rules. Do everything they say. To the letter. Within the timeframe. Keep copies of everything. That said, my clients are mentally ill and disabled, so things can get a little mixed up. Although I will say that some of their workers are excellent with my seriously ill clients. Others...not so much.