New requirement to maintain eligibility for SSA Low-Income Subsidy

The Social Security Administration (SSA) began sending redetermination letters to selected Medicare beneficiaries with Low Income Subsidies (LIS) at the end of August. This year, all beneficiaries who have received a Form SSA-1026, "Social Security Administration Review of Your Eligibility for Extra Help," must return it within 30 days. Failure to do so will result in termination of the subsidy as of January 1, 2008. This is a change from last year, when only those with changes in income or resources were obliged to submit the forms.

If a beneficiary has lost this form, discarded it in error, or needs more time to complete the form, he/she can call the SSA national number at 1-800-772-1213 or their local SSA field office. If the beneficiary no longer has the form, the redetermination can be completed over the phone, or the beneficiary can request that a new form be mailed.

For more clarity about this process, you may download these PDFs:

• Fall Outreach Partner Milestone Timeline showing open enrollment periods, when notices will be mailed, etc.
• The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Guide to LIS Mailings from CMS, Social Security and Plans.
• The SSA's fact sheet about Form SSA-1026 and the eligibility review process.

Further information is available on the CMS Limited Income and Resources webpage.

Thank you to Lorraine York-Edberg of Franklin County Home Care Corporation's SHINE (Serving Health Information Needs of Elders) Program for bringing this issue to our attention.