What you need to know ...

Medicare beneficiaries are eligible for the extra help if they have limited income and resources. The extra help can increase their cost savings by paying for part of the monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments under the new prescription drug program. The extra help could be worth up to $3,600 per year.

The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-173), enacted December 8, 2003, requires the Social Security Administration to undertake a number of additional Medicare-related responsibilities. The Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are working together to provide persons with limited income and resources extra help paying for their prescription drugs. Social Security's role in this partnership is to help the public understand how they may qualify and apply.

Apply Online:

• See if you qualify for help with Medicare prescription drug costs.

• Apply for help with Medicare prescription drug costs.

Whether you're filing on your own behalf or helping someone file the application, submit the Internet application to us right away to avoid delaying the extra help.

Sample: Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs, SSA-1020. Instruction sheets are available in 15 different languages to help you understand the English application. The instructions are to be used as guides and cannot be used as applications. Arabic, Armenian, Chinese, Farsi, French, Greek, Haitian-Creole, Italian, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese

The actual applications are available only in English and Spanish. You must complete either an English or Spanish scannable paper application or you can apply online (English only).

• Understanding The Extra Help With Your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, Publication No. 05-10508, (02/08) (English and Spanish PDF)
  
  
• Save on drug costs! Apply for extra help with Medicare prescription drug plan costs, Publication No. 05-10509, (02/08) (English and Spanish PDF)
  
  
• I helped my mom save $3,600 on prescription drugs. You can too!, Publication No. 05-10163, (04/08) (English and Spanish PDF)
  
  
• Show someone you love how much you care, Publication No. 05-10505, (02/08) (English, Arabic, Armenian, Chinese, Farsi, French, Greek, Haitian-Creole, Italian, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese PDF)
  
  
• Tips For Completing The Application For Help With Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs, Publication No. 05-10122, (02/08) (English and Spanish PDF)
  
  
• Review Of Your Eligibility For Extra Help With Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs: Some Things You Should Know, Publication No. 05-10111, (08/07) (English, Arabic, Armenian, Chinese, Farsi, French, Greek, Haitian-Creole, Italian, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese PDF)
  
  
• Getting Help With Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs, Life Insurance: Face And Cash Values, Publication No. 05-10108, (03/06) (English, Arabic, Armenian, Chinese, Farsi, French, Greek, Haitian-Creole, Italian, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese PDF) (Alternative Formats)
  
  
  
• Getting Help With Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs, Income And Resource Limits, Publication No. 05-10115, (02/08) (English and Spanish PDF)

• What You Need To Complete The Application For Help With Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs, Publication No. 05-10128, (02/08) (English and Spanish PDF) (Alternative Formats)
  
  
• Getting Help With Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs, Information For State And County Legislators, Publication No. 05-10012, (03/06) (English and Spanish PDF)

• Getting Help With Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs, Information For American Indians And Alaska Natives, Publication No. 05-10013, (02/08) (English PDF)
  

• Getting Help With Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs, When Someone Pays Your Household Expenses, Publication No. 05-10094, (03/06) (English and Spanish PDF)
  
  
• Getting Help With Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs, Information For Medicare Beneficiaries With Disabilities Publication No. 05-10118, (02/08) (English and Spanish PDF)
  
  
• Your Right To Question The Decision On Your Application For Help With Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs, Publication No. 05-10144, (01/06) (English and Spanish PDF)
  
  
• What You Should Know About The Medicare Prescription Drug Plans: Qualify For Extra Help And Pay No Penalty In 2008,Publication No. 05-10126, (02/08) (English and Spanish PDF)
  

Although Social Security determines entitlement to Medicare benefits, the Medicare program is administered by a different agency, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). There also is a Medicare Web site, and CMS has several publications about Medicare prescription drug coverage.

For information about changes in your extra help coverage, visit CMS at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/limitedincomeandresources/. On this site, you also will find copies of CMS mailings.

[Back to top]