On Valentine's Day, 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.

This Valentine's Day, 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 copayments. The extra help could be worth up to $3,600 per year.

To figure out whether your loved ones are eligible, Social Security needs to know their income and the value of their savings, investments and real estate (other than the home in which they live).

To qualify for the extra help, a person must be receiving Medicare and have:

Income limited to $15,840 for an individual or $21,240 for a married couple living together. (These amounts will increase soon.) 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

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live with them, have earnings from work or live in Alaska or Hawaii.

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-touse 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).

Reaching age 65 or full retirement age in 2008? - If you will turn 65 or reach full retirement age in 2008 and have not filed a Social Security or Medicare application, we can provide you with information that will be helpful in determining when to file an application. Mail us the following information:

- Your name.
- Social Security number.
- Estimated 2007 earnings.
- Estimated 2008 earnings.
- Complete mailing address.
- Telephone number (both home and work).
-Date of birth.
- If you plan to retire in 2008, month in which you would.
- Spouse's Social Security number.
- Spouse's date of birth.
- If spouse is deceased, give date of death.

Send it to: Your Social Security, Social Security Administration, 3885 Main St., 3rd Floor, Bridgeport CT 06606. Attn: A. Renzoni. Anthony Renzoni is district manager of the Bridgeport office of the Social Security Administration.

His column appears every Monday.