Social Security For Dummies

Part 1: Getting started with Social Security. What Social Security is and why you need it ; A breakdown of benefits ; Deciding when to start collecting retirement benefits ; Protecting your number and securing your card -- Part 2: Taking the plunge : filing for Social Security. Signing up for benefits ; Determining how much you've earned ; Navigating the system ; When you and Social Security disagree : the appeals process -- Part 3: Who benefits and when. Spousal benefits : watching out for each other ; Family benefits : who gets what ; When you can't work : Social Security disability benefits -- Part 4: Social Security and your future. Enrolling in Medicare ; Working in "retirement" ; Shaping a financial future you can live with -- Part 5: The part of tens. Ten myths about Social Security ; Ten reasons young people should care about Social Security ; Ten choices facing the country about the future of Social Security -- Part 6: Appendixes. Appendix A: Glossary ; Appendix B: Resources ; Appendix C: Strengthening Social Security.;Social Security for Dummies is the one guide you need to navigate the often-complex world of Social Security retirement benefits. This updated edition offers clear guidance on when to claim benefits, how much you can expect to receive, where to find Social Security calculators, and so much more. Since its inception in the 1930s, workers across the United States have set aside a portion of their wages to fund the Social Security Administration. For many, Social Security forms the foundation for their retirement funds. Social Security For Dummies provides you with all the information you need to take charge of your retirement, maximize your financial well-being, and successfully navigate the U.S. Social Security Administration. Title Page -- Table of Contents -- Introduction -- About This Book -- Foolish Assumptions -- Icons Used in This Book -- Beyond the Book -- Where to Go from Here -- Part 1: Getting Started with Social Security -- Chapter 1: What Social Security Is and Why You Need It -- Understanding What Social Security Means for You -- Appraising the Value of Social Security -- Understanding How You Pay for Social Security -- Getting the Most Out of Your Social Security Benefits -- Getting in Touch with the Social Security Administration -- Chapter 2: A Breakdown of Benefits -- Bringing Security to Old Age: Retirement Benefits -- Surviving the Loss of a Breadwinner -- Paying Your Bills When You Can't Work: Disability Benefits -- When the Need Is Great: Supplemental Security Income -- Chapter 3: Deciding When to Start Collecting Retirement Benefits -- Paying Attention to Your Full Retirement Age -- Looking at Life Expectancy When You Claim Benefits -- Considering Your Spouse When You Claim Social Security -- Recognizing the Potential Payoff of Working Later in Life -- Putting It All Together: The Right Time to Begin Collecting Benefits -- Chapter 4: Protecting Your Number and Securing Your Card -- Getting a Social Security Number -- Managing Your Social Security Card -- Protecting Yourself by Protecting Your Number -- Part 2: Taking the Plunge: Filing for Social Security -- Chapter 5: Signing Up for Benefits -- When to Apply for Social Security Benefits -- Where to Apply for Social Security Benefits -- How to Apply for Social Security Benefits -- How You Get Your Money: The Check Is Not in the Mail -- Chapter 6: Determining How Much You've Earned -- Your Social Security Statement -- Social Security Calculators -- Chapter 7: Navigating the System -- Being a Smart Consumer of Social Security -- Getting the Answers and Help You Need

• Make sure you get the benefits you've earned
• Navigate your way around the complex system with ease
• Incorporate Social Security into your financial plan

Your Social Security safety net

Social Security exists to give us peace of mind, yet most of us spend sleepless nights anxious about our finances as we move on to the next phase of life. Luckily, this easy-to-access guide takes the worry out of navigating the complex Social Security system, offering the sound, trusted guidance you need to ensure you're getting the most out of your benefits. In no time, it gives you a clear understanding of when and how to apply so you can rest easy knowing that you and your family are getting the benefits you've earned.

Inside…

• Get advice on when to start collecting
• Protect your dependents
• File for benefits
• Manage the appeals process
• Get the paperwork right
• Help a loved one apply
• Decipher disability benefits
• Find out how Social Security and Medicare work together

Get the benefits you've earned Social Security For Dummies is the one guide you need to navigate the often-complex world of Social Security retirement benefits. This updated edition offers clear guidance on when to claim benefits, how much you can expect to receive, where to find Social Security calculators, and so much more. Since its inception in the 1930s, workers across the United States have set aside a portion of their wages to fund the Social Security Administration. For many, Social Security forms the foundation for their retirement funds. Social Security For Dummies provides you with all the information you need to take charge of your retirement, maximize your financial well-being, and successfully navigate the U.S. Social Security Administration. You'll get up-to-date information to: Make your way around the Social Security website Know your Social Security options—including retirement, survivor, spousal, and disability benefits Find resources when you're stumped Get answers to common questions Retirement is meant to be enjoyed, and Social Security For Dummies makes it easier. A step-by-step guide to getting Social Security benefits for you and your family. Peterson gives you the practical information you need to make the most of the program, and make smart decisions about retirement.