Before you put yourself through the drudgery of going down to your local Social Security office, check the Social Security website to see if you can take care of your problem without going in.  

There are a lot of things you can take care of online.

Did you know you can do all of the following at the Social Security website?

• Apply for retirement benefits.
• Apply for disability benefits.
• Check your application status.
• Appeal a recent decision / denial.
• Find out what benefits you can apply for.
• Find out if you can get extra help with your Medicare prescription drug costs.
• Estimate your future retirement benefits.
• Find your full retirement age.
• Estimate your disability and survivors benefits.
• Request a Social Security Statement.
• Change your address or telephone number.
• Get a replacement Medicare card.
• Request a Proof of Income letter to verify Social Security benefit information.

Click for more information about what you can do online at Social Security.

Whether you are applying for benefits or need to get a form, sometimes you just need to find the closest Social Security office.

The Social Security website has a great tool to help you find your local Social Security office.

Just enter your zip code and Social Security will tell you which office is closest to you and serves your area.

This will also give you a map, telephone numbers, and office hours.

Did you know that Social Security has a fact sheet on “What You Should Know Before You Apply For Social Security Disability Benefits?” 

• How does Social Security decide if I am disabled?
• My doctor says I am disabled.  Is that enough to qualify me for disability benefits?
• I am getting disability payments from my job or another agency, can I automatically get Social Security disability benefits?
• How long does it take to make a decision?
• Can I do anything to speed up the process?
• How does Social Security make the decision?
• If Social Security decides that I am disabled, what type of benefits can I receive?
• Can I apply for disability benefits online?
• Will my personal information be kept safe?
• What if I am more comfortable speaking in a language other than English?
• Where can I get more information?

The fact sheet is available as a pdf document here.

The National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR) has a great FAQ about Social Security disability claims.

Check it out!

If you are looking for a clear, simple, and understandable explanation of the ins and outs of the Social Security system, the go-to guide is the Online Social Security Handbook.

This online resource boils down the regulations into plain English and keeps the legalese to a minimum.

Here are some sample topics:

• What are the categories of eligibility under SSI (Supplemental Security Income)?
• How is disability defined for disabled widow(er)s?
• Are Social Security benefits subject to taxes?
• When is a widow entitled to widow(er)’s insurance benefits?
• When is a surviving child entitled to child’s insurance benefits?

The downside of the Social Security Handbook is that it is not always current with the regulations, so some of the information may be out of date.

Also, it is not a primary source. That means you cannot cite the handbook as legal authority. You still need to know the regulations (which the handbook does not give you) if you want to make a citation.

However, when you just want to get an overview of how Social Security addresses a particular topic, the Handbook is a terrific resource.