SOCIAL SECURITY

News Release

Patty Duke and Dr. David Kessler Team with Social Security in Flu Prevention Public Service Campaign

Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that Academy Award winner Patty Duke and David Kessler, M.D., former head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, have teamed with Social Security to launch a flu prevention public service campaign. Ms. Duke and Dr. Kessler are featured in a new public service announcement letting people know some simple steps they can take to prevent the spread of the flu, as well as the fact that most business with Social Security can be done online by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov .

"President Obama recently declared a flu emergency and we want to be sure that Americans looking to Social Security for critical services don't underestimate the value of the simple but important steps they can take to help protect themselves and others from the flu," Commissioner Astrue said. "They should also know if they need to do business with Social Security but don't want to visit an office, they can always go online to www.socialsecurity.gov ."

Social Security's online services, led by the agency's Retirement Estimator, online retirement application, and Medicare Extra Help application, have consistently ranked at the top of all government electronic services in the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) E-Government Satisfaction Index. The most recent ACSI report released on October 27, 2009 notes that citizen satisfaction with federal government websites surged to a new all-time high in the third quarter of 2009 and some of Social Security's online services surpass those of private sector stalwarts like Netflix and Amazon.

"Patty Duke and Dr. Kessler are doing a great service to the country by volunteering their services to help us get the word out about flu prevention and our online services," said Commissioner Astrue. "I encourage all Americans to do everything they can during this flu season to keep themselves, their families, and their neighbors healthy."

For more information about Social Security's online services and to view the new public service announcement featuring Patty Duke and Dr. David Kessler, go to www.socialsecurity.gov .

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SSA Press Office 440 Altmeyer Building 6401 Security Blvd. Baltimore, MD 21235