In trying times it’s nice to know there’s a place to turn for answers: your smartphone.

The Advocator Group, an organization that helps Americans obtain disability benefits, has released a new smartphone app, “Disability Answers,” to help people with debilitating health conditions and their families handle the bureaucratic minefield surrounding Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicare eligibility.

Available for both iPhone and Android devices, it offers clear answers to simple questions (“What is disability insurance?”) as well as the esoteric, head-scratching stuff (“Tips for filing taxes for a lump sum retroactive award”). On a more personal level, the “My Answers” menu walks users through a step-by-step survey to determine the likelihood of coverage. If nothing else, it will provide a touch-sensitive road map during an emotionally taxing and paperwork-intensive time.

You can download “Disability Answers” in the Apple iTunes app store or the Android market by searching under “Disability Answers” or “The Advocator Group.” You can learn more about Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicare benefits at The Advocator blog, the group’s new webpage for disabled individuals and their families: www.advocator-blog.com.