Оглавление
Peterson Jonathan. Social Security For Dummies
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
Life Happens: Keeping the Social Security Administration in the Loop
Setting the (Earnings) Record Straight
Halting Your Retirement Benefits
Recovering a Lost or Stolen Social Security Check
Getting Dinged for an Overpayment
Getting Social Security in a Global Economy
Registering a Complaint with the Social Security Administration
Chapter 8. When You and Social Security Disagree: The Appeals Process
Reconsideration: Taking Your First Step
Going to an Administrative Law Judge to Solve Your Problem
Knowing What to Expect from the Appeals Council
Taking Your Claim to Federal Court
Part 3. Who Benefits and When
Chapter 9. Spousal Benefits: Watching Out for Each Other
Who Qualifies and Who Doesn’t
How Much You Can Expect to Get
How to Maximize Your Benefits
Chapter 10. Family Benefits: Who Gets What
Defining Who’s in the Family
Identifying the Benefits Family Members Are Eligible For
Looking at How Having a “Child in Care” May Affect Your Own Benefits
Understanding the Family Maximum
Counting on Kids’ Benefits When Parents Live Apart
Managing Benefits on Behalf of a Child
Chapter 11. When You Can’t Work: Social Security Disability Benefits
The Two Types of Disability Benefits
How Social Security Defines Disability
How to Make Your Case
What to Do If You Get Turned Down
What Happens to Your Benefit If You Can Go Back to Work
Part 4. Social Security and Your Future
Chapter 12. Enrolling in Medicare
Understanding the ABCs (and D) of Medicare
Qualifying for Medicare
Signing Up for Medicare
Paying Premiums
Getting Hit with Late Fees
Buying Extra Insurance: Medigap
Getting Financial Help If You Need It
Chapter 13. Working in “Retirement”
The Pros and Cons of Not Retiring at Retirement Age
The Earnings Test: How Your Payments Are Calculated When You Work
When You Go Back to Work after Retirement
Special Considerations for the Self-Employed
Uncle Sam Giveth and Taketh Away: How Benefits Are Taxed
Chapter 14. Shaping a Financial Future You Can Live With
Envisioning Your Life with Social Security
Preparing for Life on Social Security
Part 5. The Part of Tens
Chapter 15. Ten Myths about Social Security
Myth: Social Security Is a Ponzi Scheme
Myth: Your Social Security Number Has a Racial Code in It
Myth: Members of Congress Don’t Pay into the System
Myth: Social Security Is Going Broke
Myth: The Social Security Trust Funds Are Worthless
Myth: You’d Be Better Off Investing in Stocks
Myth: Undocumented Immigrants Barrage Social Security with Illegal Claims
Myth: When Social Security Started, People Didn’t Even Live to 65
Myth: Congress Keeps Pushing Benefits Higher Than Intended
Myth: Older Americans Are Greedy Geezers Who Don’t Need All Their Social Security
Chapter 16. Ten Reasons Young People Should Care about Social Security
If You’re Lucky, You’ll Be Old Someday
Your Parents Will Be Old Even Sooner
You’re Paying into the System Now
You Benefit When Social Security Keeps People Out of Poverty
You May Need Benefits Sooner Than You Think
Social Security Ensures That Time Doesn’t Eat Away at Your Benefit
Social Security Benefits Are One Thing You Can Hang Your Hat On
The System Works
The Alternatives Are Worse
Life Is Risky
Chapter 17. Ten Choices Facing the Country about the Future of Social Security
Whether to Increase the Earnings Base
Whether to Cover More Workers
Whether to Raise Taxes
Whether to Cut Benefits
Whether to Modify the Inflation Formula
Whether to Raise the Full Retirement Age
How to Treat Women More Fairly
Whether to Divert People’s Taxes to Private Accounts
Whether to Create a Minimum Benefit
Whether to Give a Bonus for Longevity
Part 6. Appendixes
Appendix A. Glossary
Appendix B. Resources
Social Security
Medicare
AARP
Other Sources
Appendix C. Strengthening Social Security
About the Author
Dedication
Author’s Acknowledgments
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