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>> GOOD AFTERNOON, AND WELCOME.
TODAY IS A SPECIAL DAY FOR KATHY, AND A HISTORIC DAY FOR
ALL OF US AT SOCIAL SECURITY.
AS COMMISSIONER, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE BENEFITS
OF SOCIAL SECURITY FOR PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
SOCIAL SECURITY PROVIDES ECONOMIC PROTECTION TO MILLIONS
OF AMERICANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
TODAY, KATHY HAS REACHED A PERSONAL MILESTONE.
SHE HAS MADE THE TRANSITION FROM THE WORK FORCE TO RETIREMENT.
AND AS THIS NATION'S FIRST BABY BOOMER, SHE'S LEADING THE WAY
FOR HER GENERATION.
OVER THE NEXT TWO DECADES, SOCIAL SECURITY EXPECTS THAT
NEARLY 80 MILLION AMERICANS WILL FILE FOR RETIREMENT.
TO HELP US MEET THE SERVICE NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC, WE
ENCOURAGE ALL FUTURE RETIREES TO VISIT SOCIALSECURITY.GOV
TO FILE THEIR CLAIM OR GET INFORMATION ABOUT THE DOCUMENTS
THAT ARE NEEDED TO SUCCESSFULLY FILE FOR BENEFITS.
KATHY HAS GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO FILE FOR RETIREMENT BENEFITS
ONLINE TO SERVE AS AN EXAMPLE FOR HER GENERATION.
FILING ONLINE WITH SOCIAL SECURITY IS FAST, EASY, AND
ABOVE ALL, TOTALLY SECURE.
IN ADDITION TO THE CONVENIENCE IT GIVES ONLINE FILERS, IT WILL
HELP US MINIMIZE THE CROWDS IN OUR WAITING ROOMS AND ALLOW US
TO SERVE THOSE WHO TRULY NEED FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT.
KATHY IS NOW PROBABLY THE ONLY WOMAN IN AMERICA WHO CANNOT LIE
ABOUT HER AGE, BUT TO PROTECT HER PRIVACY, SHE ELECTRONICALLY
ENTERED SENSITIVE INFORMATION INTO THE COMPUTER EARLIER THIS
MORNING.
KATHY HAS AGREED TO COMPLETE HER ONLINE RETIREMENT APPLICATION
RIGHT NOW.
KATHY, ARE YOU READY?
>> I'M READY.
>> OKAY.
WONDERFUL.
LET'S DO IT, AND COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> OKAY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AMERICA'S FIRST BABY BOOMER, AND MOST
RECENT RETIREE, KATHY CASEY-KIRSCHLING.
CONGRATULATIONS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> IT WAS GREAT.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
>> IT WAS GREAT.
IT IS SO USER FRIENDLY, AND I HOPE THAT MANY OF MY FELLOW
BOOMERS WILL TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT.
BECAUSE APPLYING ONLINE JUST -- JUST MADE IT MUCH EASIER TO GO
THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS.