SSI

[fishheadbob]

i worked there 28 years. I never demanded anyone produce their card, laminated or otherwise.
In reality the horror stories are few and far between but when you pay 60 million people or so each month bad things will happen. Then I would have to get off my duff and clean up someone's mess, yours or ours. Beside it gives folks something to talk about besides politics.
They tell you to file 2 or 3 months ahead in case things go wrong there is plenty of time to clean up. In reality average processing time used to be around 21 days; it's probably less by now. That doesn't mean that if you are retiring in January but file in October you will star collecting checks in November (dream on.)
Checks come for the month gone by. Huh? Say you want to retire in January. Those payments show up the first part of February.
Break even point on taking benefits before full retirement age is around age 78. If you start collecting earlier than full retirement age for you you wind up getting more checks in your lifetime, but for slightly less money. You break even at 78.
Social Security's actuaries are fond of saying that they know how many people will die, and when. They just don't know who.
Easiest way to beat the system is to live to durn near 100 by which point you won't know or care anyway..

 

[k0ua]

Turned 66 last month and decided its time to start drawing social security, went to my local office, yep closed. Spent about one hour online applying. Did get a reply email stating my request was received. Have no clue what the monthly amount will be or when it will start. Any one else applied online and had success. My experience dealing with the VA has always been bad. I passed up taking SS at 62 or 65 hoping for the larger amount at 66, I hope I didn't screw by waiting.

mark

I applied online of course. I found it fast and easy. They should tell you when the payments will start and the amount. Go log back into your account and do some "pilfereing" around. From what I remember, I think the payments started in about a month and a half after i applied. Of course you can always run the estimator to see what you estimated payments will be at any time. You don't have to wait until it is time to apply. I applied at 62.

 

[Diggin It]

i worked there 28 years.

Just wait until you file with OPM. They would NOT let me even send in the paper work until I was eligible ... no early filing at all, not even a day. In fact, it arrived a day early and they mailed it back to me, so I had to mail it in again. They wouldn't even keep it for a day. Then there was a six month wait because they were so far behind. Eligible in December, first payment was due in January. They finally got around to it in June and coughed up the first 5 months in one payment. That was FERS ... you may be under CSRS.

 

[TractorGuy]

I've always been told that you can't laminate it. Never understood that. It's the most delicate, important ID card I've got.....

I have my original card I got in the 3rd grade. It's been wet on numerous occasions. Still plenty legible and intact.

 

[Jim Nelson]

My original S.S. card is pretty tattered so I asked for a new one at the time the new Medicare cards came out. I received the new Medicare card and immediately had it laminated so it wouldn't fall apart like the old one did but still haven't received a new S.S. card which I will immediately laminate too, if I ever get one. The new Medicare card said not to laminate but I have never been questioned and I have to show it a lot. I don't think it's a big deal.

 

[ovrszd]

I wonder if it's an old rule that has outlived it's value?

 

[Jstpssng]

I laminated mine way back when I got it, but the thing still looks bedraggled. I don't even know where it is, the last time that I remember using it was 16 years ago when I took my current job.
Probably not valid anyways, not long after I got it I tried to redo my signature and it shows.

 

[Doofy]

Hmmm. My SS card has been laminated for over 50 years and it has never been a problem. Come to think of it, I don稚 recall anyone ever asking to actually see it either. That includes banks, state offices, passport office, and employers. They just ask for the number.

Same here. Barracks Mate stole my wallet to go drinking in about 1973. Never saw wallet, drivers license or social security card again. State sent me a new drivers license but I never tried to get a replacement card. Never needed to present it to anyone. I retired at 54 and started Social Security at 62. Never thought I would live this long or I may have waited.

 

[Jim Nelson]

I wonder if the lamination thing had to do with early copy machines not being capable of handling it. Mine has been copied many times and never any problems or remarks from the medical office people doing it. Just doesn't make sense to me.

 

[Doofy]

I've considered applying for a replacement SS Card but there are so many 3rd Party bozos wanting to "Help" you with that and I am not about to hand out that # to just anyone. Never go to town when the SS Office is open.

 

[Jstpssng]

I've considered applying for a replacement SS Card but there are so many 3rd Party bozos wanting to "Help" you with that and I am not about to hand out that # to just anyone. Never go to town when the SS Office is open.

You should be able to go to the online SS site and get it replaced for free. Replacement Card | SSA

From their site;

Getting a replacement Security number (SSN) card has never been easier. As long as you’re only requesting a replacement card, and no other changes, you can use our free online services from anywhere. All you need to do is log in to or create your personal my Social Security account.
Keep in mind that in many cases, even if you lost your card, you may not need a replacement. In most cases, simply knowing your Social Security number is enough. But if you do need a replacement, we make it easy.

(Bold added for emphasis)

I have been thinking about getting it replaced for a while, and this discussion got me to do something. After reading the above though, I probably won't bother. I know that my old one is in a box someplace... I just need to remember which one I put it in when I moved here in 2003.

 

[kthompson]

Do you remember when it was not legal to use SS Card for ID? Not sure the exact wording that was printed on the card. Now I have typed this was it the card of the SS number that was legal to use for ID?

 

[Doofy]

You should be able to go to the online SS site and get it replaced for free. Replacement Card | SSA

From their site; (Bold added for emphasis)

I have been thinking about getting it replaced for a while, and this discussion got me to do something. After reading the above though, I probably won't bother. I know that my old one is in a box someplace... I just need to remember which one I put it in when I moved here in 2003.

I probably won't bother getting a replacement either. Haven't needed the card in 47 years.

 

[Jim Nelson]

I went ahead and ordered a new one today because my antique one is really tattered and my memory is going away so fast that I worry about not remembering my #. While looking at my old card I was surprised to find there was nothing about laminating or not using for ID, which I'm sure was on my original some 70 years ago but replaced about 50 years ago with the one I have now because I lost my wallet. Maybe my memory is worse than I thought but that would mean that a lot of us are wrong and that can't be. Or can it?

 

[grsthegreat]

it was a total mess. started when i went to get my STAR card (stupid new government id program). they need to see your social security card. i went to show them it....nope, cant accept it of its laminated. i argued the point and they showed me the govt document that states it. thats when i had to go to SSI office and stand in huge line.

What the Social Security Administration Says

According to the Social Security Administration, or SSA, you should not laminate your Social Security card. The Administration states this on its website, but you can also find a similar statement on the back of your Social Security card. The reason given for discouraging lamination is that it can potentially cause certain security features to fail to function. Likewise, you could also encounter a problem if the authenticity of your laminated card is called into question. Because the card is laminated, you may not be able to prove that the card is genuine, possibly causing problems when you need to use the card for identification purposes.

 

[Doofy]

I have never used my SS Card for ID and I didn't need it to get the Real ID card. There were several other options available.

 

[grsthegreat]

Idaho required either a ss card or a form 1099 from the soc sec admin...either one requires a trip to ss office.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Knock on wood! I am 84 and still have my original SS card issued when I was working at 12 years old still in reasonable shape. Even went through 33 years of military service and working construction. Included a tour in Vietnam and six beach landing exercises. It has always been in my wallet and it has never been lost or stolen either. Luck or??

Ron

 

[Diggin It]

There are no security features on the old ones like mine:

Just paper/card stock.

 

[ChuckT]

I started drawing at 72 mostly cause we were riffed when the contract closed. Watching expenses and being careful. I've out lived my father, died at 50, so every year (I'm 75) is a bonus.