February 12, 2008
History was made when Kathleen Casey-Kirschling, born at one second after midnight on January 1, 1946, became the first of the Baby Boom generation to receive Social Security retirement benefits. She will be followed by over 80 million Americans of that generation who will eligible for Social Security retirement benefits. A retired Maryland teacher, she has become a celebrity featured on the Social Security website, USAToday, Bloomberg, ABCNews and others.

The Baby Boom generation, Americans born from 1946 to 1964, will begin be eligible to sign up for for Social Security and Medicare over the next 22 years. The alarm is being raised that this large group of people, more than 10,000 per day on average, may overwhelm the system and force it into bankruptcy some years into the future. Eligible beneficiaries can begin receiving reduced (75%) Social Security benefits at age 62 and Medicare benefits at age 65.

True to the high-tech approach of Baby Boomers Casey-Kirschling registered for her benefits online through www.socialsecurity.gov and by receiving payments through direct deposit.

Direct deposit is a win for both the beneficiary and taxpayer. "Like many of her fellow boomers, Kathy leads a full and busy life," said Jim Courtney, Social Security Deputy Commissioner for Communications. "By choosing direct deposit, Kathy’s benefit is safely and conveniently deposited into her bank account. No matter where in the country - or the world - Kathy is, her money is as close as the nearest ATM or just a mouse click away through online banking." Use of direct deposit also protects aginst fraud, identity theft and does away the problem of lost and stolen checks.

Taxpayers win through a reduction of expense for printing and mailing checks. It is estimated that taxpayers would saving about $130 million a year through this effort. The Social Security Administration is working with Kathleen Casey-Kirschling to promote the use of direct deposit through a public service announcement and promotion on its website.