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<TITLE>Partnership with Social Security</TITLE>
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<FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'>Dear Directors:<BR>
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The Social Security Administration is reaching out to public libraries in hopes that you might choose to partner with them on some new initiatives. I have been asked to pass along this information for your consideration. Please read the message below that I received from the President of the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies. --> Jim<BR>
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Social Security is involved in a wide variety of new and important initiatives. They have asked libraries throughout the country to partner with them to share information about these initiatives with the American public.<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><UL><LI><FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'> Specifically, they have asked us to help promote their new national campaign Retire Online. It’s So Easy! This campaign features a new online retirement application that can be completed in as little as 15 minutes. The application is available online at www.socialsecurity.gov <a href="http://www.socialsecurity.gov/"><http://www.socialsecurity.gov/></a> , and can easily be completed at any of our library computers. A brochure on the subject can be viewed at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10522.pdf <a href="http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10522.pdf"><http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10522.pdf></a> . <BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><UL><LI><FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'>In May 2009, as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Social Security will distribute a one-time payment of $250 to over 55 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries. A leaflet which discusses this in greater detail is available online at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10519.pdf <a href="http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10519.pdf"><http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10519.pdf></a> . <BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><UL><LI><FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'>Later this year, Social Security will be launching their third annual Mother’s Day and Father’s Day campaigns promoting the Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug plan costs. The agency will keep us updated as to when these new outreach materials are available. <BR>
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Partnering with Social Security to promote these initiatives will benefit the populations we serve. One way you can do this is by linking to the agency’s website at www.socialsecurity.gov <a href="http://www.socialsecurity.gov/"><http://www.socialsecurity.gov/></a> . Publishing articles about these initiatives in your newsletters or other publications is another method of getting this important information out.<BR>
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Finally, if you would like copies of the retire online or one-time 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. <BR>
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