Briefs: Continental on ramp to close at I-19

The I-19 northbound on-ramp at Continental Road will close from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. starting Tuesday night and lasting three days. The on-ramp will remain open during the day.

The closure Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights will allow Borderland Construction to install drainage pipe along Continental at the entrance to the on-ramp.

Motorists should use Abrego Road northbound to Esparanza Road to access Interstate 19. Continental Road will remain open and businesses will be accessible.

During the project there will be lane restrictions on Continental Road. Message boards will be in place to warn about lane restrictions.

Information: Pima County Department of Transportation, 740-6410.

GVAS PROVIDES FINANCIAL WORKSHOPS

Green Valley Assistance Services, in partnership with Don’t Borrow Trouble, Money Management International, Pima County and United Way, will offer workshops covering budgeting, credit reports and creating a plan to get through a temporary financial set-back.

Workshops will be offered Oct. 16, 23 and 30.

Each session will be held 2-4 p.m. at Casa de Esperanza Senior Center. All workshops are free.

To reserve a spot, call 625-5966.

SOCIAL SECURITY SIGN-UP ONLINE

Social Security has a new online retirement application and a new celebrity spokeswoman to help spread the word.

You can apply for retirement benefits from your home or office at www.socialsecurity.gov. There’s no need to drive to your local Social Security office or wait for an appointment with a Social Security representative. You can complete the online retirement application in as little as 15 minutes.

In most cases, after you click the “Sign Now” button and submit the application electronically, that’s it. There are no forms to sign, and usually no additional documents are required. Social Security will contact you directly if more information is needed.

Actress Patty Duke volunteered to let people know they can retire online. Duke has brought back the identical cousins Patty and Cathy Lane from the hit 1960s sitcom “The Patty Duke Show” for a series of Public Service Announcements.

If you are uncertain about when to retire, you can check the online fact sheet, “When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits.” You can plan for retirement using Social Security’s online Retirement Estimator. It is a great financial planning tool that will give you an immediate and personalized estimate of how much your retirement benefits would be if you stopped working at age 62, age 66, age 70 or any point in between.

To learn more about retiring online go to www.socialsecurity.gov/pattyduke.