YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY

By DAVID BROWN

Applying for disability benefits from Social Security is easier than it's ever been before. Until recently, the disability report had to be completed manually. Now, you can save time by completing it on-line and sending it to us electronically.

Mr. Brown is District Manager of the Social Security Administration's Downtown New York Office.

An important part of applying for disability benefits for adults is completing the adult disability report, or Form 3368. The report asks important questions about your disabling condition, medical records, health care provider contact information, and information about your educational and work history. This information is important to help us determine your disability.

We use your disability report and information to help us answer these five questions:

Are you working? Is your disabling condition severe enough to limit your ability to do work?

Is your condition on our list of impairments, and is it expected to last for at least a year or end in death?

Can you do the work now that you did in the past? Can you do any other work?

There are two versions of the adult disability report that can be completed on-line, depending on whether you are the person applying for benefits, or a professional representative.

If you are applying for disability benefits on your own behalf, you can complete the on-line disability report at the following link: www.socialsecurity.gov/disabilityreport .

If you are representing a disabled person, you can complete our professional version of the disability report. Examples of representatives include attorneys and non-attorney representatives, employees of government agencies, social agencies, hospitals, nursing care facilities, homeless shelters, or non-profit agencies, and anyone else who assists applicants in applying for disability benefits.

If you are representing someone and want to apply for benefits on their behalf, you can go to the following Web site to complete their adult disability report: www.socialsecurity.gov/i3368prohelp .

Keep in mind that in addition to the disability report, we will also need a completed application for disability benefits. The on-line application can be found at the following address: www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability .

To learn more about Social Security, visit our Web site at www.socialsecurity.gov , or call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).