“Social Security for Dummies is a must read for people of any age who want a comfortable retirement. … The difference between a smart claiming strategy and a dumb one can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars, so you'll want to invest in this book.”
—Liz Weston, personal finance columnist and author of the bestselling Your Credit Score and
The 10 Commandments of Money
Claim the benefits you’ve earned
The award-winning Social Security For Dummies—now in its fourth edition— is the one guide you need to navigate the often-complex world of Social Security benefits. You’ll learn when to start claiming, how much you can expect to receive, where to find Social Security calculators, and more.
Since 1937, workers across the United States have set aside a portion of their wages to fund Social Security, which, for many of us, forms the basis of our retirement income. Despite its central importance in our lives, few of us understand how Social Security really works. That’s where Social Security For Dummies comes in. Written in an easy-to-follow, clear language, it provides comprehensive information on how to negotiate the sometimes labyrinthine system and claim everything you qualify for. You’ll learn how to:
· Navigate the Social Security website
· Know which options you qualify for
· Use Social Security calculators
· Get answers to frequently asked questions
Retirement is the time for you to kick back, relax, and enjoy the fruits of your labors—Social Security For Dummies makes it easier.
Praise for Social Security For Dummies:
“Social Security for Dummies is a must read for people of any age who want a comfortable retirement. Jonathan Peterson does a great job of explaining this complicated system and helps you understand how to get the most from the benefits you've earned. The difference between a smart claiming strategy and a dumb one can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars, so you'll want to invest in this book.”
—Liz Weston, personal finance columnist and author of The Ten Commandments of Money
“This is your go-to book on Social Security. Chock-full of useful tips, easy to use, and well organized, it answers all your questions about Social Security.”
—Steve Vernon, author of Money for Life: Turn Your IRA and 401(k) Into a Lifetime Retirement Paycheck and CBS MoneyWatch commentator
“Social Security for Dummies is indispensable for anyone who wants to get the best possible deal from Social Security — and that means all of us, young and old, because everyone will need Social Security benefits in this era of disappearing pensions and dwindling savings. Strategies for single people, for married couples, for survivors, for divorced people: You can find expert advice on all these subjects and more in this easy-to-understand guide to a very complex subject.”
— Bob Rosenblatt, editor of HelpwithAging.com and Senior Fellow at the National Academy of Social Insurance
Table of Contents:
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 57
Part 2: Taking the Plunge: Filing for Social Security 73
Chapter 5: Signing Up for Benefits 75
Chapter 6: Determining How Much You’ve Earned 89
Chapter 7: Navigating the System 99
Chapter 8: When You and Social Security Disagree: The Appeals Process 123
Part 3: Who Benefits and When 141
Chapter 9: Spousal Benefits: Watching Out for Each Other 143
Chapter 10: Family Benefits: Who Gets What 157
Chapter 11: When You Can’t Work: Social Security Disability Benefits 173
Part 4: Social Security and Your Future 197
Chapter 12: Enrolling in Medicare 199
Chapter 13: Working in “Retirement” 221
Chapter 14: Shaping a Financial Future You Can Live With 241
Part 5: The Part of Tens 253
Chapter 15: Ten Myths about Social Security 255
Chapter 16: Ten Reasons Young People Should Care about Social Security 265
Chapter 17: Ten Choices Facing the Country about the Future of Social Security 273
Part 6: Appendixes 281
Appendix A: Glossary 283
Appendix B: Resources 291
Appendix C: Strengthening Social Security 297
Index 301
