How to Apply for Extra Help
Applying for Extra Help is easy. Just complete Social Security’s Application for Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs (Form SSA-1020). Here’s how:
- Apply online at www.socialsecurity.gov/extrahelp;
- Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to apply over the phone or to request an application; or
- Apply at your local Social Security office.
After you apply, Social Security will review your application and send a letter to you to let you know if you qualify for Extra Help. After you qualify, you can choose a Medicare prescription drug plan. If you do not select a plan, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will do it for you. The sooner you join a plan, the sooner you begin receiving benefits. If you aren’t eligible for Extra Help, you still may be able to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan.