Your Social Security

By DAVID BROWN

Do you have a question about the Social Security program that you would like answered quickly and simply?

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

Many people find that one of the easiest and best ways to get answers to their Social Security questions is to visit the Frequently Asked Questions on Social Security's Web site. Just go to Social Security Online at www.socialsecurity.gov. At the upper right-hand side of the Web page is a pull-down menu of Frequently Asked Questions. The menu includes hundreds of common questions, conveniently separated into 25 subject areas.

Under the subject "benefits" there are more than 70 common questions. For example, "Do I have to pay income tax on my Social Security benefits?" Under "Social Security number and card," there are 70 answers to common questions. For example, "How do I replace a lost Social Security card?"

You can get answers to questions like "How do I correct my name or birthday listed on my Statement?" or "How do I request a replacement SSA-1099, Benefit Statement for tax year 2007?" and many more.

If you can't find an answer to your particular question about Social Security, you can simply type in your question and Social Security will respond by e-mail.

But in most cases, you'll find that we have the answer to your Social Security question. After all, we've published the most commonly asked questions on the Web site - 600 of them!

Last year, nearly 30 million people got answers to their questions using our Frequently Asked Questions page. Next time you have a question, look for answers on-line. Just visit the Frequently Asked Questions on the Social Security Web site at www.socialsecurity.gov.