This fact sheet is designed to provide you with background information concerning Social Security’s role in the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA). On January 1, 2006, a new program began providing prescription drug coverage under Medicare. People who have limited income and resources may be able to get help paying for monthly premiums, annual deductibles and co-payments under this prescription drug program.

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’s role is to help people apply for this extra help and to process their applications. A person may qualify for extra help if they have:

• Limited income (below $14,700 for an individual or $19,800 for a married couple living together). Even if their annual income is higher, a person still may be able to get some help with monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments. Some examples where income may be higher include if a person or their spouse:
  

  —Support other family members who live with them;

  —Have earnings from work; or

  —Live in Alaska or Hawaii; and

• Resources limited to $10,000 for an individual or $20,000 for a married couple living together. These resource limits can be slightly higher (an additional $1,500 per person) if a person will use some money for burial expenses.

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 at www.socialsecurity.gov.
• 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.

You can help a Medicare beneficiary that you care for or care about by contacting Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or by obtaining additional information through our website at www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp/.

To learn more about Medicare prescription drug plans, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or visit www.medicare.gov.