How the review works
Extra Help isn’t a one-time decision. Social Security periodically checks that you still meet the income and resource limits. Sometimes this happens automatically using records already on file; other times you’ll get a form in the mail asking you to confirm your current income and resources. If you get a review form, respond by the date on it — not responding is one of the most common reasons people lose a benefit they still qualify for.
Medicare Savings Programs are reviewed by your state Medicaid office, usually once a year (the timing and process vary by state). Your state page points to the agency that handles it.
If a review form arrives
- Read it carefully and note the deadline.
- Have recent statements handy — Social Security award letters, bank statements, pension records.
- If anything is unclear, a free SHIP counselor can help you fill it out.
- Keep a copy of what you send and how you sent it.
If your income or savings changed
Report changes when they happen, rather than waiting for the next review. If your income dropped, you may now qualify (or qualify for a higher level of help). If it rose, reporting it keeps you out of trouble at the next review. Either way, the rules about what actually countsmean a change on paper doesn’t always change your eligibility.
If a notice says your benefit is ending
Don’t panic, and don’t ignore it. A notice may be the result of a missed review form rather than a real change in eligibility. You generally have the right to appeal a decision, and there are deadlines to do so. Contact Social Security (for Extra Help) or your state Medicaid office (for an MSP) right away, and bring the notice to a SHIP counselor — they help people respond to exactly these letters every day, for free.