Record keeping thoughts

[Jess from VA]

Well, I just completed my Social Security on-line application.  Before logging on, I did my homework, and it told me I would need my birth certificate, DD Form 214, last work-year tax records, and some other stuff.

Ten or fifteen years ago, I probably knew exactly where this stuff was.  I know I have it, somewhere (and a truckload more), but where exactly proved more difficult than I thought.  I am old school, and have kept hard copies and files of things all my life.  I used to keep them nice and tidy and up to date, but for the last 10-15yrs, not so much.  So I was in the safe, and the file cabinets, and the files, card catalogs, and the three feet of loose stuff.  

And I found a lot of interesting stuff (to me).  Like a stack of old IDs, dr licenses, military IDs, permits, deputy sheriff card, motorcycle safety course card, foreign marriage license, itemized bill of my O'club wedding ceremony dinner/liquor, ad nauseum.  

I have tax files, military record files, civil service employment files, 26 years of leave and earnings statements,  gun files, mortgage files, bank files, investment files, passport files, huge receipt files, driving/traffic infraction files going back to 16yo, huge motorcycle files, home improvement/upgrade expense/receipt files, files of instructions for appliances/tools/machinery, citations to accompany military awards, copies of two (B1B) aircraft accident investigations I did, other work related files, writing samples of notable work projects, and on and on.  Holy crap, a lot of stuff (a regular fire hazard).  Then there's the 40 years of old photography that never made it into albums.

Obviously, someone needs to go through all this stuff, and sort out the 1) necessary, 2) the probably-a-good-idea-to-still-hold-onto, and the 3) way-past-time-to-shred-it-up-and-toss-it-out.  It looks like a solid 40 hours of work, and I don't feel like it.

When you were still working or had a security clearance, much of the old stuff was good to have on hand, but those days are gone.  Receipts (and instructions) for can openers that were thrown away in 1980 seem less than useful.

Anyway, I finally found the documents I was told I would need for my SS application.  And you know what? I didn't need any of it at all (amazingly, I remembered my birth date and location, and few other questions relating to those required records).  So I didn't need to tear the house apart and go through all that stuff.  Thanks a lot fellas!  

Now, I either have to actually go thru this stuff, or just shove it back in the file cabinets.  

[Woton]

Kinda wondered about that as I was reading...  A few months ago I helped my non-computer-savvy sister apply online and it was not that difficult a process.

Just shove it, Jess!

[Frankj]

Just had an appointment with a local SS office for my wife, wanted a face to face to make sure she had all the details and answers to some questions, all she needed to bring was a photo id and bank routing info if she wanted direct deposit which she did, done deal in a few minutes.

I signed up last year and I know I didn't have to send all those documents in

Frank

[Earl43P]

Subject: SOCIAL SECURITY FOR VETS

Please share this with anyone who's had active duty service prior to January 2002 and planning for retirement.  In a nutshell it boils down to this:  You qualify for a higher social security payment because of your military service, for active duty any time from 1940 through 2001 (the program was done away with in January 2002).  Up to $1200 per year of
earnings credit credited at time of application - which can make a substantial difference in social security monthly payments upon your retirement.  You must bring your DD-214 to the Social Security Office - and you must ask for this benefit to receive it!  Soc Sec website: http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/military.htm

This is something to put in your files for when you apply for Social Security down the road.  It is NOT just for retirees, BUT anyone who has served on active duty prior to January 2002.  FYI - this benefit is not automatic, you must ask for it!

[Frankj]

Nice find and info Earl! I was looking at the link you provided and saw this:

How Military Service Affects Social Security Benefits – post 1956

The good news is that if you served in the military anytime after 1956, you paid the Social Security taxes, just like civilians do. There are credits you will receive if certain circumstances are met.
•If you served between 1957 and 1967 you’ll receive extra credits when you apply for Social Security.
•If you served between 1968 and 2001 these credits have been added to your record.
•If you served after 2001 you won’t receive extra credits.

These extra earnings credits are added to your earnings record when you apply for Social Security benefits. In all cases, the additional earnings are credited to the earnings that we average over your working lifetime, not directly to your monthly benefit amount.

So does that mean serving between 1968-2001 they have automatically been applied? Also interested to see how much that $1,200/yr in earnings would increase the monthly payment you receive.

Good info for vets and be sure to ask

Frank

[Jess from VA]

Thanks Earl. 

I had read about this before, but had forgotten about it.  The directions told me to have my DD214 on had when applying, but (curiously) the on-line application did not ask me a single question about it.  My service between 84-92 is supposed to be taken care of (per their notice), but I will not rely on that assurance and will tap back into my application or account and report it anyway.  It sounds like I will have to get a hard copy DD214 to them. 

Thanks again.

[Reb]

that DD214 is very important to have. I've made 10-15 copies of mine to hand out when occasions arise,

Offcourse when I go to apply for a new driver lincense, it's good to have that, along with birth cirtificate, photo ID, mail to prove your place of residency, a drop of virgins blood, a shrunken head, and a horn from a unicorn. 

[John Schmidt]

I need to check into that military credit thing, I was never asked about my service when I first applied twelve years ago.

[Jess from VA]

I tried to log in a message on my new SS account, but they only give a phone number. I just got off the phone with some idiot at the SS Administration.  She said I was entitled to credit for all years/quarters worked while paying social security, including military service.  No crap Sherlock. 

When I explained this was not an attempt to meet the requisite quarters (I'm way past that), and that SS's own website discussed extra pay on top of usual benefits, she said she doubted that.  Then I read it to her off the SS website, and she was confused.  Great.

They will process my application and be back in touch with me in due course.  I guess I just have to wait for that to happen, then ask about it again. 

John, if you have a DD214, and some spare time, I think I'd just walk it into a SS office (or maybe you need an appointment).
   

[old2soon]

Earl43p-thanks for that tidbit of info.   WHO amongst us cain't use an extra $100.00 a month?   Soon as the weather-big mournful sigh here-clears up i'll head back to West Plains S S office. Reb-I'm with you-lotsa extra copies of that D D 214!   Been retired a bit over 6 years and I believe   THAT weren't brought up!   Fixin ta make dat mo betta!   RIDE SAFE.

[JimmyG]

Jess,
you are old school like me, but,  I have a method that has worked perfect for years now.  Last time I taught this method was when I went back to work at a hospital and had to deal with a medical records manager on a regular basis. Her desk was stacks and stacks of paper. the floors were stacks of paper, everywhere you looked were stacks of paper. I asked her what all this stuff was and she told me it was stuff she needed to go through and reply to.  I said, "how old is it"?  She told me some of it was weeks old, others months old.  Here is what I told her.   These stacks of paper everywhere do not impress anyone, in fact it tells me you are inefficient at your job.  she got a little snippy about it and said,"well what do you do"?  I told her the secret.  You make three piles. Must do, very important stuff,  stuff that can be put off for a few days, and then the rest of the stuff that can get done whenever.  Every week, you rake the big stack of junk that never matters if you get done or not into the trash can.  Stuff that is important will get moved from stack two to stack one and get done. The rest is bull crap, and if for some reason it is important, someone will let you know and you can move it to stack one.  She thought I was nuts, but I kept after her and believe it or not, she finally started using that method and her desk became very manageable.  Man, she was way to stressed with all that important crap stacking up(tongue in cheek). 
I have the same problem with old stuff and old records, then we moved and we had a big barrel burning party. I burned up stuff I had been keeping for years that was crap.  I saved all my military stuff and other things I wanted to hand down to my kids, but the rest is ashes and smoke now.
I feel for you having to go through it, but have a burn barrel party and never look back. Have fun

[Frankj]

Earl43p-thanks for that tidbit of info.  Wink WHO amongst us cain't use an extra $100.00 a month?  2funny Soon as the weather-big mournful sigh here-clears up i'll head back to West Plains S S office. Reb-I'm with you-lotsa extra copies of that D D 214!  coolsmiley Been retired a bit over 6 years and I believe  Roll Eyes THAT weren't brought up!  Lips Sealed Fixin ta make dat mo betta!  cooldude RIDE SAFE.

Correct me if I'm wrong, it's not that you get $100. month extra in your SS check, but an extra $100. (max  $1,200./yr ) towards your earnings for those years; example if I made $40,000 in one year they would up it to $41,200.

If that's correct I don't know what that equates to for the monthly SS check

[BF]

Jess, just go cross the southern border and come back in and you can get everything for free without having to provide any paperwork. 

[Jess from VA]

Well of course your right Jimmy.  Hey, I even named three priorities in my original post.

I know what I must keep, want to keep..... and the rest (majority) is trash.

It's just that I have been putting it off for years.  

A corollary to to Parkinson's Law (work expands to meet the time allotted for it) is, paperwork (or stuff) expands to fill the space available for it (see everyone's garage/shed/barn/basement; see George Carlin's A place for my crap )

The only good thing is that about the time I retired, I started shredding 90% of new incoming stuff (as I always should have), so at least I haven't added much to the pile.  

I still don't want to do it.  But I long ago learned a lesson of my own. Rather than attack the whole job, getting pissed and frustrated and making poor decisions, break the job down into bite sized pieces (work diligently until you're tired of it), then quit, and repeat later until you're finished.  Same way you prepare for a trial. Same way I work on my bike (as a pure shade tree rookie).   If you undertake a huge job piled in front of you, you're doomed to frustration and poor quality work.

Course, once the paperwork is done..... then there's the house full of stuff.  I'm going to have more trouble with stuff than the paper.

Frankj, I think you're right.  It only adds something to total annual earnings, which is then used to compute your benefit.  I don't think this works out to be a big increase, but I'll hold them to the letter of the law since I have 8yrs, 8 months.

Bruce, I've let my passport expire, and I'm too old to swim the river and climb the fence and hike the desert.  And my Spanish is only good enough to get my face slapped.  
    
 

[John Schmidt]

Just wondering now re. the military thing, I was in from Jan. '57-Jan. '63. Now if it wasn't considered initially, wonder if I'd get it all as back pay. Yeah....right! 

[Hooter]

I tried to log in a message on my new SS account, but they only give a phone number. I just got off the phone with some idiot at the SS Administration.  She said I was entitled to credit for all years/quarters worked while paying social security, including military service.  No crap Sherlock. 

When I explained this was not an attempt to meet the requisite quarters (I'm way past that), and that SS's own website discussed extra pay on top of usual benefits, she said she doubted that.  Then I read it to her off the SS website, and she was confused.  Great.

They will process my application and be back in touch with me in due course.  I guess I just have to wait for that to happen, then ask about it again. 

John, if you have a DD214, and some spare time, I think I'd just walk it into a SS office (or maybe you need an appointment).
   

   
    "SHE WAS CONFUSED"! Now there is a surprise... Probably can't make change without a calculator either. Great she knew her job and it's fundamental requirements.

[da prez]

  John , it refers to 1957 to 1963  not 1857 to 1863.  Just kidding John. When I get back home I will apply .

                            da prez

[John Schmidt]

  John , it refers to 1957 to 1963  not 1857 to 1863.  Just kidding John. When I get back home I will apply .

                            da prez

I have a couple joints that fall into that age range, at least they feel like it some mornings. Where did all those years go anyway?