Getting Help With Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs
Information For State And County Legislators

Congress has given Social Security the responsibility to help the public understand that they may be eligible for extra help with their prescription drug costs under this program. Social Security, as well as the States, has a role in helping people apply for this extra help and to process their applications.

Social Security designed a simplified application to ease the filing process so that caregivers and third parties could assist people when they apply for the extra help. Social Security did not want this population to have to travel to a Social Security field office. There are several ways for people to apply:

• Apply online
  
  
• Get an application or apply over the phone by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778)
  
  
• Attend a community event sponsored by Social Security or a civic or service organization where they can complete an application. Questions about extra help will be answered at these events. Staff from Social Security’s 1,300 field offices has been out in local communities taking applications at locations such as senior centers, libraries and places of worship.
  
  
• Visit a local Social Security field office.

To support our application process Social Security has undertaken a major public educational and outreach campaign. We have held thousands of events and trained thousands of organizations and State agencies to assist in our outreach efforts. We have worked with Medicaid personnel, State Pharmacy Assistance Programs (SPAPs), State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) Directors and various community organizations providing training, instructional materials, pamphlets, and posters where needed. We will continue to provide any necessary training or materials you need.

You can arrange to meet with Social Security representatives by contacting Social Security’s Regional Communication Directors. A listing is provided on our website at www.socialsecurity.gov/ pressoffice/natlpocontacts.html. Additional instructional or public information material also can be obtained through our website at www.socialsecurity.gov/medicareoutreach2/index.htm

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