| Introduction |
|
1 | (4) |
|
Chapter 1 Social Security basics |
|
|
5 | (12) |
|
The role of Social Security retirement benefits |
|
|
6 | (2) |
|
How Social Security benefits are funded |
|
|
8 | (2) |
|
Taxes on Social Security benefits |
|
|
10 | (7) |
|
|
|
11 | (1) |
|
|
|
12 | (1) |
|
Long-term funding challenges for Social Security |
|
|
13 | (1) |
|
Social Security numbers and cards |
|
|
14 | (3) |
|
Chapter 2 Social Security retirement benefits |
|
|
17 | (18) |
|
Who can apply for retirement benefits? |
|
|
19 | (1) |
|
How retirement benefits are calculated |
|
|
19 | (8) |
|
|
|
20 | (2) |
|
Why it's important to have 35 years of earnings |
|
|
22 | (1) |
|
Age at retirement and full retirement age (FRA) |
|
|
22 | (2) |
|
Example: How early retirement reduces benefits |
|
|
24 | (3) |
|
Delayed retirement benefits |
|
|
27 | (5) |
|
Increases in living standards |
|
|
27 | (1) |
|
Maxing out contributions to Social Security |
|
|
28 | (2) |
|
Cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) |
|
|
30 | (2) |
|
Assessing your own life expectancy |
|
|
32 | (3) |
|
Chapter 3 Auxiliary benefits for family members |
|
|
35 | (8) |
|
|
|
36 | (1) |
|
|
|
36 | (4) |
|
Example: Spousal benefits |
|
|
37 | (1) |
|
Spousal benefits and the new "deemed filing" rule |
|
|
38 | (1) |
|
Benefits for a divorced spouse |
|
|
39 | (1) |
|
|
|
40 | (3) |
|
Chapter 4 Working and collecting retirement benefits |
|
|
43 | (8) |
|
How earned income affects retirement benefits |
|
|
43 | (8) |
|
|
|
44 | (2) |
|
Special situations: Teachers and other workers with government pensions |
|
|
46 | (2) |
|
Special situations: Citizenship and residency |
|
|
48 | (3) |
|
Chapter 5 How to interact with Social Security |
|
|
51 | (14) |
|
SSA.gov and My Social Security |
|
|
51 | (2) |
|
Mail, phone, and in-person visits |
|
|
53 | (1) |
|
How to apply for benefits |
|
|
54 | (1) |
|
Social Security and Medicare |
|
|
55 | (2) |
|
|
|
57 | (2) |
|
Dealing with overpayments |
|
|
59 | (1) |
|
The Social Security appeals process |
|
|
60 | (2) |
|
|
|
62 | (3) |
| Conclusion |
|
65 | (2) |
| Glossary |
|
67 | (4) |
| Appendix Saving for retirement |
|
71 | (20) |
| Index |
|
91 | (2) |
| Bonus: Introduction to Genealogy Basics In 30 Minutes |
|
93 | |
