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SOCIAL SECURITY

Social Security Administration

800-772-1213 or TTY: 800-325-0778

The website provides detailed information regarding eligibility, types of benefits and application procedures. The site also offers a variety of online resources, such as a check of your yearly income record and an estimate of your benefit amount when you apply at different times between age 62 and 70.

You can also create a free personalized Social Security account (www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount) to access information about your monthly payments, request a replacement Social Security card, or estimate future benefits.

Long Island Social Security field offices are located in Mineola, Melville, Freeport, West Babylon, Patchogue, Central Islip and Riverhead. Field offices generally offer the full range of Social Security services, including helping Medicare beneficiaries with limited income and resources apply for extra help with the cost of their prescription drugs under the new Medicare Prescription Drug Program.

AARP Social Security Benefits Calculator

Similar to the SSA’s benefits estimator, it also estimates the percent of one’s living expenses that will be covered by Social Security and allows you to tweak the expense assumptions. The tool doesn’t include any spousal or survivor decision-making tools.

Ask Mary Jane

This site is a free service provided by the National Committee to Protect Social Security and Medicare. Click “Ask a Social Security Expert.”