SOCIAL SECURITY NEWS FOR YOU By Oscar Torres-Torres: Military service, sacrifice counts

It's an American tradition to pay tribute to the men and women of the Armed Forces each Memorial Day - especially honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country.

If you are a military service member who was wounded and need to apply for disability benefits, you will receive expedited processing.

Our wounded warriors initiative is for military service members who have become disabled while on active duty on or after Oct. 1, 2001, regardless of where the disability occurs.

Depending on the situation, some family members of military personnel, including dependent children and, in some cases, spouses, may be able to receive benefits. Learn more about it at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors.

Did you know that May also is National Military Appreciation Month? Even more reason to let members of our military know how much we value what they do for us and our nation.

To learn more about Social Security benefits for those who have served in the military, read the publication, "Military Service and Social Security. You can find it online at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10017.html; or e-mail OPI.Net.Post@ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to ask for a free copy to be mailed to you.

Memorial Day also is a good time to remind families of fallen military heroes that we may be able to pay Social Security survivors benefits. If the person you depended on for income has died, you should apply for survivors benefits.

Learn more about Social Security survivors benefits at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pgm/survivors.htm.

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Oscar Torres-Torres is district manager of Chambersburg's Social Security office.

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