We Are Here to Help You Realize Your Dream
By Phil Walton
Social Security Manager in Toledo, OH
Guest Column
January 16 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day — a national
holiday and a day of remembrance. Martin Luther King Jr.
dedicated his life to creating and fostering equal rights
for African Americans, and he died during his efforts to
make his dream a reality. Many people commemorate this
holiday by serving their community and giving to others who
may be less fortunate. In many ways, this is what Social
Security does every day, all year long.
A great way to be of service to others is to help someone
you know who may need assistance applying for Social
Security, Medicare, or Extra Help with Medicare
prescription drug costs. This is easy to do at
www.socialsecurity.gov. Some people who need these
benefits may not be comfortable with computers or may not
even know applying online is an option. But now, it’s
easier than ever to apply for such benefits from the
convenience of a home computer at
www.socialsecurity.gov.
For example, it’s easy to apply for retirement benefits at
www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline. It can take as
little as 15 minutes from start to finish. Once the
application is electronically submitted, in most cases,
there is nothing more to do.
It’s even easier to apply
for Medicare, for people who do not plan to begin their
Social Security retirement payments yet but who do want
Medicare coverage. The application takes about 10 minutes
and you can find it at
www.socialsecurity.gov/medicareonly.
People who already have
Medicare coverage, but who need help meeting prescription
drug costs, can apply for Extra Help online at
www.socialsecurity.gov/extrahelp. This holiday, you may
want to make a trip to see the Martin Luther King, Jr.
Memorial in Washington D.C. or read or listen to a recording
of his legendary I Have a Dream speech. You can also
make your Martin Luther King Day a day of service to someone
who can use your help. Lead them to
www.socialsecurity.gov. It may be easy for you, but it
may help someone you love realize their own dreams.
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