GLEN BURNIE, Md. (May 24, 2012) -- It's an American tradition to pay tribute to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces each Memorial Day, especially honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country.

If you are a service member who was wounded and needs to apply for disability benefits, it's important to know that you will receive expedited processing.

Social Security's Wounded Warriors Initiative is for service members who 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 www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors.

May is National Military Appreciation Month.

To learn more about the Social Security benefits for those who have served in the military, read the publication, Military Service and Social Security.

It is available online at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10017.html.

To request that a free copy be mailed to your home, email OPI.Net.Post@ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

Memorial Day is also 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 www.socialsecurity.gov/pgm/survivors.htm.

The men and women of the armed forces serve us each and every day. At Social Security, we're here to serve them.