Ebook: Social Security For Dummies

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.