Idaho Commission for Libraries

The Social Security Administration has asked libraries throughout the country to partner with them in sharing information with the public about initiatives involving retirement, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus package, and Medicare. They are asking libraries to inform their patrons of the following initiatives:

• Retirement: a new national campaign Retire Online. It’s So Easy! features an online retirement application that can be completed in as little as 15 minutes. The application is available online at www.socialsecurity.gov and can easily be completed at a library computer. See a brochure on the topic at: www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10522.pdf.

• ARRA Stimulus Package: A One-Time Economic Recovery Payment of $250 to over 55 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries in May 2009, as a result of ARRA. Read more about it at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10519.pdf.

• Medicare: the third annual Mother’s Day and Father’s Day campaigns promoting the Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs, which the Social Security Administration will launch later this year.
Partnering with Social Security to promote these initiatives will benefit the populations that libraries serve. One way to do this is by linking to the agency’s website at www.socialsecurity.gov. Another is to publish articles about these initiatives in newsletters or other publications.

If you would like copies of the Retire Online or One-Time Economic Recovery Payment brochures or you need additional information from Social Security, please e-mail Carolyn Houston at Carolyn.Houston@ssa.gov or call her at 410-965-7603. Please indicate the quantity desired (in units of 100) and where the publications should be shipped.