At Social Security, we honor our nation's veterans not only on Veterans Day, but every day of the year. In fact, military service members may receive expedited processing of their disability applications from Social Security.

Under an agreement initiated by Social Security, the Department of Defense transmits information to us that allows us to quickly identify military personnel injured in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The expedited process is available for any military service member who becomes disabled during active duty on or after October 1, 2001, regardless of where the disability occurs. Depending on the situation, some family members of military personnel, including dependent children and spouses, also may be able to receive benefits.

If you, or someone you know, was wounded while on active duty in the military, find out more about what Social Security can do by visiting our Web site designed specifically for wounded warriors: www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors. There, you will find answers to a number of commonly asked questions, as well as other useful information about disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Pay special attention to the fact sheets available on that site: Disability Benefits for Wounded Warriors and Expediting Disability Applications for Wounded Warriors.

You'll also find links to useful veteran affairs Web sites, such as the "Veterans Online Application" Web site.

Although the

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expedited service is relatively new, military personnel have been covered under Social Security since 1957. Even people in the service before 1957 may receive special credit for some of their service. Military personnel are covered for the same Social Security retirement, disability and survivors benefits as everyone else. A person's Social Security benefit depends on earnings averaged over a lifetime. Generally, the higher your earnings, the higher your Social Security benefit. Under certain circumstances, special earnings can be credited to your military pay record for Social Security purposes. The extra earnings are for periods of active duty or active duty for training. These extra earnings may help you qualify for Social Security or increase the amount of your monthly benefit.

To learn more about Social Security for those who have served in the military, read our publication, "Military Service and Social Security." You can find it at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10017.html, or you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to ask us to mail a free copy to you.

Reaching age 65 or full-retirement age in 2009? -- If you will turn 65 or reach full-retirement age in 2009 and have not filed a Social Security application, we can provide you with information that will be helpful in determining when to file one.

Mail us:

"¢Your name.

"¢Your Social Security number.

"¢Estimated 2008 earnings.

"¢Estimated 2009 earnings.

"¢Complete mailing address.

"¢Telephone number (both home and work).

"¢Date of birth.

"¢If you plan to retire in 2009, month in which you would.

"¢Spouse's Social Security number.

"¢Spouse's date of birth.

"¢If spouse is deceased, give date of death.

Send it to: Your Social Security, Social Security Administration, 3885 Main St., 3rd Floor, Bridgeport CT 06606. Attn: A. Renzoni.

Anthony Renzoni is district manager of the Bridgeport office of the Social Security Administration. His column appears every Monday.