My wife of three years is recovering at Jackson Trauma Unit from a debilitating illness that has left her paralyzed.

Now, with physical therapy she is able to move her hands. I am taking care of her thirteen-year-old mentally challenged son.

A few days ago we received two letters from Social Security.

One came from the office in Miami and the other from an office in Georgia.

The one from Miami stated that my stepson's benefits will stop on October 1st. They also asked for my stepson's name, address, bank account and information regarding any other accounts that we might have. It also said that we might have to pay back the benefits.

My wife's hospital bill is in the thousands of dollars. We do not even know how we are going to pay for it.

The other letter said that the benefits are going to go to another payee. No explanation, nothing. We found both letters confusing.

I went to the Social Security office to get some answers, but I was told that my wife needs to come in herself. I would need permission from her doctors and I would need a special van to get her there.

This illness has left her depressed at times and I do not want this to stress her out even more.

Can you all please help us?

P.S. We speak Creole, a little English.

--Livandieu Dorilus, Miami

A.We contacted Social Security Administration spokesman Paul Greene, who said that the Privacy Act prohibits Social Security from disclosing information without the consent of the person.

If you can get consent from your wife, Social Security can disclose the information to you.

He suggests you fill out SSA-3288, Consent for Release of Information, which is the preferred consent document.

Greene said there appear to be a couple of issues involved, which is why you received two letters.

Since you speak Creole, he said that it would be helpful if you had an interpreter. He said your local Social Security office, where you have visited before, has a Creole speaker.

``Once he has the consent of his wife, I'm sure he can get explanations in his native language,'' Greene said.

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