A Gatekeeper Event

Three months before or after turning 65, all United States citizens must go to a Social Security office, for a prearranged appointment (of which you will be reminded by three phone calls and letters), to establish you are who you say for signing up for Social Security.

When it came my turn to do this, it seemed to me a seminal event. It only takes about ten minutes, but on the other side of the interview is official old age. On this side, well it really isn't that different except for how the government sees it.

Although it didn't make sense to Farm Boss, I put some thought into what I wanted to wear. He said, it's casual. Wear anything. He didn't get 'it.' This wasn't about what the office would expect, but about me. I finally decided on a sundress I bought earlier this summer and tan high-heeled sandals. I put on make-up, made sure my hair had some curl. I was going in to declare myself officially old, but I didn't want to look any older than was necessary while doing it.

There are a few gateway moments in our lives like graduation from schools, confirmation into a religion, marriage, birth of children, and even funerals. We wear something special for most of them. Okay, not the childbirth but it's in a class of its own.

In fiction books, when the hero enters into the adventure of the story, she/he passes by the gatekeeper or into an event that defines entry from one world to another. This is what it felt like for me to gather up my birth certificate and passport, Social Security card, and go into the government to prove I am not only me but soon to be 65 years on this planet.

If you haven't already been through this experience, it is not something most can choose to do or not. You sign up during a 6 month window or there is a financial penalty for signing up later.

With proof of identity in hand, and in my case, since I had not been a working wife (the farm does not count), proof of being married to someone who had worked and through whom I had had insurance. I had the Farm Boss with me to sign the necessary paper. Interestingly I never had to sign anything, but my verbal yes or no was reminded to me several times to be under threat of perjury.

When the administrator asked if I had any outstanding felony warrants, I said no, but then my sense of humor kicked in. I asked if anybody ever admitted to that. I could visualize as they admit it and the police show up for the arrest. Even as I had asked it, I wondered if joking was permissible (it's not in an airplane these days); but he smiled and said some should.

As a wife coming in under her husband's authority, I was first signed up, connected to him, and then disconnected to have my own Social Security, my own Medicare. The actual taking of Social Security benefits will wait until Farm Boss turns 66 next year but Medicare has to start at 65 as at that point we both lose his corporate retirement benefit.

Part way through the process, an Oriental couple took seats in the booth next to ours. I was listening to my own questions but did hear the son's talking as he tried to get his mother signed up for Medicare. She had not been here long. I am guessing they were either Taiwanese or Chinese as she didn't speak English at all when she and her son conversed. The administrator quickly told her son that she could not qualify since she had never worked in this country and had not lived here long. The son was perplexed. He asked how long would she have to be here to qualify? The administrator answered since 1996. The son appeared shocked. That long?

They apparently could have saved themselves a trip as the mother herself could have asked about this over the phone because Social Security offers interpreters in any language. The administrator was trying to be helpful and told them about Medicaid or the possibility they could talk Oregon into signing her up for the Oregon Health Care Plan which is for low income residents. Supposedly if she got into that plan, despite only just coming here, Medicare might then let her enroll...

When Farm Boss and I walked out of the building, I said sometimes I feel like a right winger. He laughed as he'd been feeling the same thing.