Jan. 23, 2012 - After years of telling people they can apply online for Social Security in their pajamas, Patty Duke has
taken her own advice. Duke turned 65 last month and applied online for retirement and Medicare benefits from home.
“I had no idea this would be such a momentous occasion,” said Duke, who for three years has volunteered her time
promoting Social Security’s online services -
www.socialsecurity.gov
- in numerous Public Service Announcements (PSAs) and media interviews.
In a new online
video, Duke puts character acting aside and shows everyone what happened when she and her husband Mike
Pearce sat down at the kitchen table, turned on their laptop, and applied for her retirement and Medicare benefits.
“All of us at Social Security wish Patty a very happy birthday,” said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security.
“She’s a Hollywood legend and an American treasure who reaches a very important milestone today.
True to form, she is the one giving us the
birthday present by showing her fellow baby boomers the easiest way to apply for benefits.”
In 2009, Duke reprised her roles as the identical cousins, Patty and Cathy Lane from the Patty Duke Show, for a series of
PSAs promoting Social Security’s online services.
In 2010, Duke teamed up with the surviving Patty Duke Show cast members for
an additional set of spots. Earlier this year, she teamed up with entertainment icon George Takei to
encourage people of all ages to “Boldly Go” to
www.socialsecurity.gov.
In the three years since Duke has volunteered her time with Social Security, millions of people have visited the agency’s
website and the percentage of online retirements has more than doubled.
“While I just applied for retirement benefits, I’m not retiring from being a Social Security spokesperson,” Duke says.
“I urge my fellow baby boomers to go online to
www.socialsecurity.gov. If you’re not sure how to get started on the computer, ask a loved one to help
you out. I did, and it was so easy.”
Patty Duke shows fellow baby boomers how to join Social Security online
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-Jan. 22, 2012