Social Security has a new online retirement application and a new celebrity spokesperson to help spread the word.

You can apply for retirement benefits from the comfort of your home or office at www.socialsecurity.gov.  There’s no need to drive to your local Social Security office or wait for an appointment with a Social Security representative.  You can complete the new online retirement application in as little as 15 minutes.  It’s so easy!

In most cases, after you click the “Sign Now” button and submit the application electronically, that’s it.  There are no forms to sign, and usually no additional documents are required.  Social Security will contact you directly if more information is needed.

Award-winning actress Patty Duke has volunteered her services to let people know they can retire online.  Ms. Duke has brought back the much beloved identical cousins Patty and Cathy Lane from the hit 1960’s sitcom “The Patty Duke Show” for a series of Public Service Announcements that tell Americans it’s now easier than ever to apply online.

If you are uncertain about when to retire, you can check out the online fact sheet, “When To Start Receiving Retirement Benefits.”  And if you are not ready to retire, you can plan for retirement using Social Security’s online Retirement Estimator.  It is a great financial planning tool that will give you an immediate and personalized estimate of how much your retirement benefits would be if you stopped working at age 62, age 66, age 70 or any point in between.

To learn more about retiring online as well as to watch the new Public Service Announcements, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/pattyduke.

Many people buy flowers, candy and cards for the ones they love - not just for sweethearts and spouses, but for children, parents and grandparents as well. 

Why not take an extra step to show someone you love how much you care?  Tell them about the Medicare prescription drug plan - and about the extra help they may be able to get through Social Security.

The high cost of prescription drug costs can be a burden on older Americans with limited income.  What better way to show you care than by showing them how to get extra help with their Medicare prescription drug costs?

Extra help - available through Social Security - can pay part of their monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments.  The extra help could be worth more than $3,600 per year. 

To figure out whether they’re eligible, Social Security needs to know their income and the value of their savings, investments and real estate (other than the home they live in).  To qualify for the extra help, your loved ones must be receiving Medicare and have:

Income limited to $15,840 for an individual or $21,240 for a married couple living together.  Even if their annual income is higher, your loved ones still may be able to get some help with monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments.  For example, their income may be higher if they 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 $11,990 for an individual or $23,970 for a married couple living together. Resources include such things as bank accounts, stocks and bonds. We do not count their house and car as resources.

Social Security has an easy-to-use online application for the extra help that anyone - family members, friends and caregivers - can complete.  You can find it at www.socialsecurity.gov.  To apply by phone or get an application, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask for the Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs (SSA-1020).  Or go to the nearest Social Security office.

To learn more about the Medicare prescription drug plans and special enrollment periods, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048). 

So this year, give someone you love something special:  the peace of mind that comes with knowing extra help is available with Medicare prescription drug costs.  Then go one step further - help them apply.  There is no better way to show how much you care.