Introduction 1
Part I: The Nuts and Bolts of Social Security 9
Chapter 1: What Social Security Is and Why You Need It 11
Chapter 2: A Breakdown of Benefits 23
Chapter 3: Deciding When to Start Collecting Retirement Benefits 41
Chapter 4: Protecting Your Number and Securing Your Card 59
Part II: Taking the Plunge: Filing for Social Security 73
Chapter 5: Signing Up for Benefits 75
Chapter 6: Determining How Much You've Earned 87
Chapter 7: Navigating the System 95
Chapter 8: When You and Social Security Disagree: The Appeals Process 117
Part III: Who Benefits and When 135
Chapter 9: Spousal Benefits: Watching Out for Each Other 137
Chapter 10: Family Benefits: Who Gets What 153
Chapter 11: When You Can't Work: Social Security Disability Benefits 169
Part IV: Social Security and Your Future 195
Chapter 12: Enrolling in Medicare 197
Chapter 13: Working in "Retirement" 217
Chapter 14: Shaping a Financial Future You Can Live With 237
Part V: The Part of Tens 249
Chapter 15: Ten Myths about Social Security 251
Chapter 16: Ten Reasons Young People Should Care about Social Security 261
Chapter 17: Ten Choices Facing the Country about the Future of Social Security 269
Part VI: Appendixes 277
Appendix A: Glossary 279
Appendix B: Resources 289
Appendix C: Play the Game: You Make the Choices to Strengthen Social Security 295
Index 299
