Social Security: Benefit information now online
Have you ever wondered if you might now be eligible for monthly Social Security benefits, or if you qualify for Medicare health insurance?
Sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin when you are looking for information about large government programs.
But now Social Security has introduced a new online service that can provide some real help for you. It’s called the Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST). If you would like to know what benefits you may be eligible for, just log onto www.ssa.gov/best. It’s available in both English and Spanish.
You will need to answer some questions about your age and marital status. And there will be some questions about your personal finances. These questions will help determine if you may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, or if you can qualify for help with your Medicare premium.
BEST takes only five to 10 minutes to complete. You will not have to give any personal identifying information, such as your name or Social Security number. And once you exit this screening tool, all your answers will be permanently erased.
BEST is not an application for benefits. After you complete the questions and see the results, you then decide if you should apply for benefits.
You can file for retirement, spouse and disability benefits online at www.ssa.gov/applyforbenefits. You also can file a retirement, spouse, survivor’s, disability or SSI application by calling Social Security’s toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213, or visiting our office at 931 Old Smithville Highway, across the bypass from Wal-Mart.