sponsored by Friendship Manor

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Questions and Answers from Social Security

[March 16, 2011]  Question: My neighbor said my kids, 4 and 12, might be eligible for survivors’ benefits since their mother died. Are they?

Answer:

If their mother worked and earned the required number of Social Security credits, both you and your children may be eligible for benefits. Apply promptly for survivors benefits because benefits are generally retroactive only up to six months. You can apply by calling Social Security's toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213. (Click here for the rest of the story)

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How you can avoid falling victim to the second-most-deadly cancer

[March 16, 2011]  ARA --A new survey shows 72 percent of Americans polled are not aware that colon cancer is the second most deadly cancer in the U.S.

 Colonoscopy. That simple word can make the bravest people cringe. Yet it's a routine procedure that could help save the lives of the 150,000 men and women diagnosed with colon cancer in the U.S. each year. (Click here for the rest of the story)

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Your March to-do list

[March 16, 2011]  It’s spring cleaning season! There’s no better time than now to start organizing, and getting important tasks cleared off your list of important things to do. Social Security would like to share a suggested “March To-Do List” with you. 
(Click here for the rest of the story)

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State Agencies Offer llinois Families Extra Help Again This Tax Season

[March 16, 2011]  CHICAGO – March 8, 2011. The Illinois Departments of Revenue (IDOR), Human Services (IDHS) and Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) urge Illinois families to take advantage of tax preparation assistance and easy filing options available at www.tax.illinois.gov. By filing their state taxes electronically, families can get their entire refund quickly and for free, avoiding high-interest refund anticipation loans offered by many commercial tax preparation companies. Low and moderate-income families can take advantage of several tax assistance services offered in conjunction with the State of Illinois. (Click here for the rest of the story)  

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What you can do to speed up your disability application 

[March 16, 2011]  If your disabling condition is preventing you from continuing to work, you may want to apply for disability benefits through Social Security. In most cases, doing so involves a thorough process of determining your eligibility, medical condition, and ability to work. Because we look so carefully at so many cases — more than three million each year — it can take us three to five months to determine whether you are eligible. (Click here for the rest of the story) 

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Prose from the Christian Village

[March 16, 2011]  The Christian Village has a writer's club and we are pleased that they have sent us two of their member's works. Betty Armstrong and Helen Tanner write on the topic: "Spring is a wonderful thing'. (Click here for the rest of the story)

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Electronic SSN payments are a must 
 

[March 16, 2011]  For years, Social Security has stressed the convenience, security, and safety of getting benefit payments electronically. Soon, direct deposit (or Direct Express) will not only be the best way to receive Federal benefit payments — it will be the only way.  (Click here for the rest of the story)

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Resources and tips for the millions of Alzheimer's caregivers

[March 16, 2011]  (ARA) - Alzheimer's takes a toll on more than just the 5 million Americans living with the disease. The millions of unpaid caregivers for patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) carry a high risk of poor health. While caregiving can be rewarding, it also can be a long and difficult journey, which often affects work, finances, relationships and health. Caregiving is a responsibility that requires encouragement and resources. Caregivers sometimes may be too overwhelmed, frustrated or depressed to seek out the help they need. (Click here for the rest of the story)

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Road trip! A mature dude's guide to roaming the highways

[March 16, 2011]  (ARA) - Work, kids, working out, taking care of the house, and a hairline that's heading for the back of your collar - it's enough to make a guy understand why some men feel the urge to buy an outrageously impractical sports car at this stage of life. But you don't need a mid-life crisis. What you need is a road trip. (Click here for the rest of the story)

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Social Security's final four

[March 16, 2011]  This time of year basketball fans are gearing up for March Madness -- a time when the final four teams in the NCAA fight for the title of national champion. While basketball fans are excited about March Madness, Social Security already has a winning “final four” of online services to cheer about: the Retirement Estimator, Benefit Application, online Extra Help application, and Business Services Online. (Click here for the rest of the story)  

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Illinois Ag can help with healthcare complaints

[March 16, 2011]  As the business of medicine has become more complex, consumers have experienced more confusion and difficulty obtaining the care and benefits to which they are entitled. To assist the consumers of Illinois with these problems the Attorney General opened the Health Care Bureau in October 1998. Since then our staff has helped to clear up more than 8,000 complaints relating to health care issues. (Click here for the rest of the story)

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Archived articles

Archived articles