Social Security For Dummies

Jonathan Peterson is a former Executive Communications Director at AARP and an award-winning journalist. His interest in Social Security began when he covered the political debate in Washington that led to major reforms in 1983. He is a former Washington correspondent for the Los Angeles Times.

Introduction 1

Part 1: Getting Started with Social Security 5

Chapter 1: What Social Security Is and Why You Need It 7

Chapter 2: A Breakdown of Benefits 19

Chapter 3: Deciding When to Start Collecting Retirement Benefits 39

Chapter 4: Protecting Your Number and Securing Your Card 55

Part 2: Taking the Plunge: Filing for Social Security 71

Chapter 5: Signing Up for Benefits 73

Chapter 6: Determining How Much You’ve Earned 87

Chapter 7: Navigating the System 97

Chapter 8: When You and Social Security Disagree: The Appeals Process 121

Part 3: Who Benefits and When 139

Chapter 9: Spousal Benefits: Watching Out for Each Other 141

Chapter 10: Family Benefits: Who Gets What 155

Chapter 11: When You Can’t Work: Social Security Disability Benefits 171

Part 4: Social Security and Your Future 195

Chapter 12: Enrolling in Medicare 197

Chapter 13: Working in “Retirement” 219

Chapter 14: Shaping a Financial Future You Can Live With 239

Part 5: The Part of Tens 251

Chapter 15: Ten Myths about Social Security 253

Chapter 16: Ten Reasons Young People Should Care about Social Security 263

Chapter 17: (Almost) Ten Choices Facing the Country about the Future of Social Security 271

Part 6: Appendixes 279

Appendix A: Glossary 281

Appendix B: Resources 289

Appendix C: Strengthening Social Security 295

Index 299