Social Security Ready to Enroll 10,000 Baby Boomers
a Day for 20 Years Online
Patty Duke Show stars helping agency promote new
online enrollment form
Jan. 7, 2009 – Facing the deluge of 10,000 Baby
Boomers joining Social Security and Medicare every day for the next 20
years, Social Security has decided the monumental enrollment task is
best handled online. The agency, with some promotion help by “Patty
Duke,” has launched the Retire Online campaign.
Featuring cousins Patty and Cathy Lane from the hit
1960’s sitcom, “The Patty Duke Show,” the campaign will let Americans
know that it’s now easier than ever to retire online.
“Social Security’s new online retirement
application can be completed in as little as 15 minutes from the comfort
of your home or office,” said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social
Security.
“Filing online means there’s no need to drive to a
local Social Security office or wait for an appointment with a Social
Security representative. I’m thrilled that Patty Duke has volunteered
to help us promote retiring online.”
“Like millions of other baby boomers, I like to
spend time with my grandchildren, travel or just relax with a good
book. And I love the convenience of doing things online,” Ms. Duke
said.
“Social Security has made applying for retirement
benefits online easier than ever before. So when you decide to retire,
apply online for Social Security benefits at
www.socialsecurity.gov. It’s so easy!”
To apply, go to
www.socialsecurity.gov and click on “Applying Online for Retirement
Benefits.”
You will be asked a brief series of questions about
you and your work. You don’t have to complete the application in one
sitting, which allows time to find information not readily available.
You can stop and restart the application without losing any of the
information entered.
There are also convenient “more info” links that
you can click on to get an answer. And when you’re done, just click the
“Sign Now” button to submit the application. There are no paper forms
to sign, and usually no additional documents are required. If more
information is needed, Social Security will contact you.
“To meet the needs of Patty and 80 million of her
fellow baby boomers, who are becoming eligible for retirement at a rate
of 10,000 a day for the next 20 years, Social Security is developing a
wide range of online and automated services,” Commissioner Astrue said.
“In addition to our new online retirement
application, and other services like our new Retirement Estimator, the
highest rated online service in government, we are continuing to expand
and improve our Internet service options. These services will help us
provide the American public with world-class service for generations to
come.”
To see a demonstration of Social Security’s online
retirement application and to view the new public service announcements
featuring Patty Duke as cousins Patty and Cathy Lane, go to
www.socialsecurity.gov/pattyduke.
