Dear John: Can you help me?

I have had a $39,000 annuity with TIAA-CREF for many years. Now I am in financial distress.

I am an 87-year-old retired schoolteacher from Rockville Center.

I’ve been told I can retrieve some of this money only for legal bills or funeral expenses. What do you think? M.G.

Dear M.G. I contacted TIAA-CREF and have some good news and some not-so-good news.

Because of the type of annuity you have, you get $5,000 a year on a regular basis for the rest of your life. It’s the terms of the policy you chose, and, despite my pressure, that couldn’t be changed.

But TIAA-CREF is willing to give you a $5,000 advance to tide you over. So, some bad news and some good news.

The problem is that TIAA-CREF and I have been trying to reach you, but you are not returning phone calls to the company or me.

Please call, and we’ll get this straightened.