Any new benefits you claim won't usually include money for your children.

No one knows how many people would take advantage of the new benefits if they became available.

That left about 40 percent - or $200 million - for new benefits and services.

But even without new benefits, the cost of the program is growing rapidly.

He did not estimate the cost of the new benefits or say how the Government would pay for them.

It is very important to us that you know what changes are coming and how to take advantage of these new benefits.

Find out more about the new benefit using the following link.

The new benefits for the elderly would take effect later.

They also reason that once new benefits start to flow, it will be very difficult to cut them.

The new benefit, covering about 75 percent of drug costs up to $2,250 a year, would begin in 2006.