Yourself by Protecting Your Number
6 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
7 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
8 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
9 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
