On Halloween, ghosts and goblins, monsters and skeletons, and all sorts of creatures will roam the streets with tricks and asking for treats. It can be a little frightening, even though it's all in jest.

There's something else that needlessly frightens some people: applying online for Social Security retirement benefits. But the good news is that those fears should be just as unwarranted as being afraid of children in costumes.

Save yourself a trip and apply for benefits from the safety of your own home or office by going online.

Applying for Social Security benefits online doesn't have to send shivers down your spine. There's nothing to be afraid of at www.socialsecurity.gov.

More and more people are discovering how convenient and easy it is to apply for benefits online at Social Security's website.

If you're not quite ready to retire, but you'd like to begin planning for it, there's an easy way to do that online too. Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator for a quick, accurate estimate of your future retirement benefits. Then, once you've fleshed out your retirement plans, you know where to go when the time comes to apply for benefits.

Does deciding when you should apply for retirement benefits seem tricky? Read our fact sheet When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits at http://socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10147.html for information that should make your decision easier.

Whether you're ready to retire now or just want to take a peek, don't be afraid to visit www.socialsecurity.gov. You'll find that it's full of useful treats.

Ginny Jordan is a Public Affairs Specialist for the Social Security Administration. Her weekly column on all things Social Security appears in the Sunday Edition of the Sun-Sentinel.

Ginny has agreed to let us reprint her articles here for your convenience.

Thank you Ginny!