YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
By DAVID BROWN

Each month about 200,000 Americans reach their 65th birthday and become newly eligible for Medicare benefits. If you or someone you know is, or soon will be, among these newly entitled Medicare beneficiaries, you will need to consider your Medicare Part D prescription drug program options.

Among the important considerations for newly entitled Medicare beneficiaries is whether or not they might qualify for extra help with some or all of the Part D premiums, deductibles and co-payments. The extra help could be worth an average of $3,700 per year.

As a general guideline, your annual income (including pensions and gross Social Security benefit) should be below $14,700 for an individual, $19,800 for a married couple living together. Income may be higher if you or your spouse have earnings from work or support other family members who live with you. In addition, resources must be worth less than $10,000 for an individual, $20,000 for a married couple living together. Resources include bank accounts, stocks and bonds but not your house and car. Limits may be slightly higher (an additional $1,500 per person) if you plan to use some resources for burial expenses.

To receive the extra help you must apply. After you apply, Social Security will review your application and let you know if you qualify for the extra help. If you qualify, you will need to enroll in a Medicare-approved prescription drug plan to get help with your prescription costs.

You can get more information about the extra help and how to apply for the benefit at www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp. If you don't have access to the Internet, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, or visit a local Social Security office. To learn more about the Medicare Prescription Drug Program, call 1-800- MEDICARE or visit www.medicare.gov .

Mr. Brown is District Manager of the Social Security Administration's Downtown New York Office.