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