"You can do this on your own time, from your own home," said William A. Halter, deputy commissioner of the Social Security Administration. "Our desire is to make this as convenient as possible for our customers."

In 1999, the Social Security Administration started sending out detailed earnings and benefit statements to all workers older than 25. Now everyone over age 55 will receive an additional insert with his or her Social Security statement that's aimed at better explaining retirement options, ranging from retiring early with a reduced benefit at age 62 to retiring after the normal retirement age.

In addition, the agency has revamped its Web site and telephone operations to better educate consumers about their benefits without requiring visits to Social Security offices.

"Everybody benefits from this," Halter said. "The customer gets greater convenience; taxpayers get a lower-cost system; and, as a country, we become better prepared to face the retirement of the baby boom generation."

The number of Americans eligible to claim Social Security also is expected to balloon. Currently, there are 44 million retirees collecting Social Security, Halter said. By 2040, that number is expected to double to 88 million.

For the technologically savvy, the new options will make applying for Social Security--which until now required an in-person visit to one of the agency's 1,300 field offices--substantially more convenient.

Applying for Social Security benefits over the phone can be done from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local times Mondays through Fridays, compared with the field offices, which are generally open only during banker's hours. In addition, Web applications can be done at any time of the day or night.

The process is not completely automated, however. Applying over the Internet requires printing out a copy of the application form, signing it and sending it in with some documents, such as an original copy of an applicant's birth certificate or marriage license.

To apply by phone, the telephone representative will send the forms that require a signature. They can either be mailed back to the agency with the proper documents or the applicant can make an appointment to take them to the Social Security office. Even if an applicant has to visit an office to deliver documents in person, the process is still likely to be far quicker than going through the entire application process in person, Halter said.

There's another catch: To use the automated program, applicants must agree to have their Social Security checks automatically deposited into their bank accounts, Halter said. That's a security measure. The Social Security Administration's Web site already is equipped with sophisticated commercial encryption software, agency officials said. However, the agency believes it prudent to send checks directly to banks, understanding that a bank also would have required several forms of identification to open an account.