Social Security

As I began seminary 12 years ago, I remember Dorothy, the person one talked to for financial aid and such at seminary, advising to maintain residency wherever it may be, if it was at all possible. I thought she was talking about the high cost of license plates/stickers for Chicago residence. I wonder if she was also talking about the rigamarole of becoming a resident of Illinois.

Proof of birth, something that shows your written signature, proof of social security #, 2 items that show proof of residency (bills, bank statements, etc).

I'm working on those proof of residency items, I have what I need for proof of birth and written signature, but I have not had my social security card for ages. 

I'm not actually sure when I misplaced it. But, I'm positive it was before 2001.  It is 2013 and I have not been able to locate my social security card since 2001. And, I haven't needed it. Until now. 

(So, obviously, the requirements of becoming a resident of Wisconsin are a bit less strenuous.)

So, yesterday I went to the Social Security Office with my appropriate papers and identification, waited just under an hour, and was easily helped. I'll have to go back again once my name changes post-wedding, post-honeymoon, but it was relatively painless.

But, I had a good amount of time to watch and observe. I sat among quite a large crowd of people who were there for much more urgent reasons than myself. People who were on disability or needing to prove that there was one more mouth to feed. People who were likely losing money sitting there. People who were (successfully & quietly) wrangling little children in a crowd of unknown people.

I watched at the security officer - who looked rather tough - calmly quieted people as they became agitated at the wait, and then made sure to help the same people as he saw their number was about to be called. He approached the deaf woman and spoke in sign language when her number was called. He communicated with people in English and Spanish. 

I watched adult children helping elderly parents, of all different nationalities. I watched parents of newborns protective and in awe of the babes in their arms. I watched a mother of a few kids watch carefully as her older (about 5 or 6 year old) son needed to use the bathroom - she sent him there, calling out to be sure he locked himself in. 

I was reminded, yet again, of the many hoops poor people have to go through to receive aid. I was reminded of the privilege that comes with having a job that is salaried, of having easy access to transportation, of being white. Perhaps there are some people that try to cheat the system...I know there are among the wealthy. But I wish people who believe our country is headed toward socialism (and think it's a bad thing) could talk to the people that were sitting in that room and hear why they were there.