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| Social Security/Medicare |
September 21, 2006 |
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"Every senior should get the medicine they need at a good price without a lot of time and hassle at the drug store."
--Heather Wilson
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Reminder:The open enrollment period for the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan is November 15, 2006 thru December 31, 2006.
If you did not enroll during the initial enrollment period that ended May 15, 2006, you can now enroll.
If you want to change plans, you can also do this during the enrollment period, from November 15 thru December 15.
The Extra Help from Social Security is always
available, if you are approved, you can enroll with a Prescription Drug Plan at any time.
New Rules For Getting A Social Security Number And Card
Recent provisions in law have changed the rules for assigning a Social Security number and issuing a Social Security card. This fact sheet gives the most up-to-date information available on the documents needed to apply for a Social Security number and card.
NEWLY ENTITLED MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES HAVE
PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAM OPTION TO CONSIDER
By Eva Lujan
Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Albuquerque
Each month about 200,000 Americans reach their 65th birthday and become newly eligible for Medicare benefits. If you or someone you know is, or soon will be, among these newly entitled Medicare beneficiaries, you will need to consider your Medicare Part D prescription drug program options.
Among the important considerations for newly entitled Medicare beneficiaries is whether or not they might qualify for extra help with some or all of the Part D premiums, deductibles and co-payments. The extra help could be worth an average of $3,700 per year.
As a general guideline, your annual income (including pensions and gross Social Security benefit) should be below $14,700 for an individual, $19,800 for a married couple living together. Income may be higher if you or your spouse have earnings from work or support other family members who live with you. In addition, resources must be worth less than $10,000 for an individual, $20,000 for a married couple living together. Resources include bank accounts, stocks and bonds but not your house and car. Limits may be slightly higher (an additional $1,500 per person) if you plan to use some resources for burial expenses.
To receive the extra help you must apply. After you apply, Social Security will review your application and let you know if you qualify for the extra help. If you qualify, you will need to enroll in a Medicare-approved prescription drug plan to get help with your prescription costs.
You can get more information about the extra help and how to apply for the benefit at www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp. If you don’t have access to the Internet, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit a local Social Security office. To learn more about the Medicare Prescription Drug Program, call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit www.medicare.gov.
APPLY NOW IF YOU ARE PLANNING
A JANUARY 2007 RETIREMENT
By Eva Lujan
Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Albuquerque
If you are planning an early 2007 retirement, now is the time to contact Social Security. Here’s why: we generally encourage people to notify us about three months before the month in which they plan to retire. If you are planning to retire in 2007 and you want your monthly payments to start in January, you can do it now – in October – and get the process completed before the start of the busy holiday season. Your monthly payments will then begin on time in 2007.
And, if you are Internet savvy, Social Security makes the process even easier and more convenient through options available at our website — www.socialsecurity.gov/applytoretire. Here you are able to apply online for your retirement (or your spouse’s) benefits from the comfort of your own home (or office).
Before you begin the online application, we will tell you that it will be signed electronically. When you click on the “sign now” button at the end of the application, you are signing the application electronically and accepting responsibility for the accuracy of the information you submit to Social Security.
Of course, we will still need to have appropriate proofs to make a decision on your claim, such as proof of age, earnings, marriage and sufficient medical evidence for disability claims. But we will be able to streamline the claims process and provide better service to you by eliminating the need to sign and return the application form.
If you do not have access to the Internet and are ready to apply for retirement benefits, you can visit your local office or call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
So remember: if you are planning an early 2007 retirement, now is the time to contact Social Security. Don’t let yourself be concerned by the prospects of traffic, poor weather or waiting rooms. Simply apply now through Social Security’s Internet website at www.socialsecurity.gov and mark one more “to do” item off of your busy fall schedule.
Also, if you are not quite ready to retire but are thinking about doing so in the near future, you may want to visit Social Security’s website to use our convenient and informative retirement planner at www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/ . Here you can find out just how close you are to meeting your financial goals and then “bookmark” the website to actually file for retirement whenever you are ready. |
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