I was a little amazed that I was supposed to get my situation resolved with the lady at Social Security before July 13th. I was told a letter had been sent advising me of this. I had not received it.
Guess what? It arrived today. Talk about peculiar timing. It was dated the 28th of June. I received it 11 days later. Tim brought the mail in and handed it to me just after I asnwered the phone call from Ms. Austin at the Social Security Office.
She was pretty irritated at all the information I'd left off of the application, and she began to ask a lot of questions. Was I married? Legally or Common law? How long. What was his SSN number? She said, more than once, "Your application has a lot of missing information. Who filled out this application?" At one point, she said, "You did not even provide your banking information."
There are so many scams going on out there. I was getting very nervous here. I told her that I'd filled out the application myself and that the questions she was asking me now were not asked on the application. She told me that the questions were right at the beginning of the application and that I could not have submitted the application without answering them. (Okay...but I submitted the application...) I also said that I didn't even understand why she needed my banking information.
She snapped, "To send you your checks."
Me: "what checks?"
Long pause.
"Oh. You're only applying for your medicare."
"Right. We're deferring benefits until we are 67."
"Well, Medicare is automatic."
I pointed out that it hadn't been automatic, that I'd been waiting since the end of March to get this approved. I made the mistake of asking why the paperwork kicked out.
She started getting pretty upset. "I'm only human'" she told me. There was a bunch of other stuff, none of it helpful. I quit asking questions.
"Listen, can we just move forward? I just want this application approved."
She told me that she was documenting that she had explained things in depth to me.
Short answer? I have no clue what happened. To be honest, I think they made a mistake, but I didn't want to listen to her 'explaining things' any longer. Her explanations did not explain at all why my application kicked out back in March.
Blimey, that sounds like one unhappy worker. Interesting that she documented that she explained things "in depth". I await the next installment with perverse glee.
ReplyDeleteI went to the website this evening just to be sure. The application has been approved.
DeleteWell, she's pleased she got the last word, on paper. Glad the real information was in your mailbox today.
ReplyDeleteDon't you just love bureaucracy?
ReplyDeleteNo. No I don't.
DeleteMedicare is NOT automatic. You have to apply for it, and choose if you want Plan B (and pay $170.10 a month for it,) and choose an Advantage Plan (not good in my book,) or a Supplement Plan about $190 a month, (better) and a Part D Drug plan. You have 3 months before turning 65 and I think 3 months or 6 months after turning 65 to get your Medicare started. If you wait or delay, you will be penalized monthly for the rest of your life, when you finally grab Medicare. (Unless you have an employer-provided insurance; but Medicare and a Supplement is better. Then you get those red, white, and blue cards for Medicare in the mail. Good luck. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteSounds like a jobsworth to me Debby.
ReplyDeleteWell, Dave, you sent me scurrying off to find out what a jobsworth was. I have a hunch you are correct.
DeleteCongratulations on your ultimate success as well as actually speaking to a live human, although it’s at times like that you begin to wonder if chat bots aren’t better after all.
ReplyDeleteShe was snippy, but I'd much rather deal with a snippy human than a chat bot! Especially when I'm trying to get a problem sorted out.
DeleteAnother overworked and highly stressed employee, I think.
ReplyDeleteI imagine.
DeleteAt last..but commiserations to those who have to do the work.. sounds as if they are overworked and underpaid.
ReplyDeleteOh, gz, if you work for the federal govt, you are not underpaid.
DeleteAt least now you might be on the right track, I hope! I guess you will be sure when your card arrives in the mail. Such unnecessary confusion! There should be a better system to all of this!
ReplyDeleteYou would think computers would have made it easier but that does not appear to be the case. Good luck, Debby!
I do have to say that very night, I logged in and checked. It said very clearly, that my application was approved.
DeleteThis has been my experience every time I have dealt with a government agency. It hasn't instilled confidence in their abilities.
ReplyDeleteI told Tim that I dreaded turning 67 and having to apply for the monthly benefits. This has been so much fun, that I really can't bear to think of doing it all over again.
DeleteOh brother. Definitely sounds like a screw-up on their end. I think "I'm only human" is essentially an admission of guilt!
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Glad it is sorted though.
ReplyDelete