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Adams 101
Social Security 101: From Medicare to Spousal Benefits, an Essential Primer on Government Retirement Aid
Learn about Social Security and plan for your future with the help of this comprehensive and accessible guide to everything you need to know about Social Security.
Understanding Social Security can be overwhelming at times and dense government websites don’t help. Fortunately, Social Security 101 can help with easy-to-understand explanations and lessons that keep you engaged as you learn all you need to know about the federal program that’s been around since the Great Depression. Social Security 101 will give you the most up-to-date information on this government program, such
-Getting a Social Security card
-Applying for benefits
-Estimating your benefits
-Disability benefits
-Medicare
-401(k) plans for young adults
Use this guide to plan for the future so that you’ll be comfortable in retirement. With the knowledge gained from this book, you’ll feel more secure in your future. Whether you want to learn about calculating your retirement age or estimating your projected payments, Social Security 101 has all the answers—even the ones you didn't know you were looking for.
Understanding Social Security can be overwhelming at times and dense government websites don’t help. Fortunately, Social Security 101 can help with easy-to-understand explanations and lessons that keep you engaged as you learn all you need to know about the federal program that’s been around since the Great Depression. Social Security 101 will give you the most up-to-date information on this government program, such
-Getting a Social Security card
-Applying for benefits
-Estimating your benefits
-Disability benefits
-Medicare
-401(k) plans for young adults
Use this guide to plan for the future so that you’ll be comfortable in retirement. With the knowledge gained from this book, you’ll feel more secure in your future. Whether you want to learn about calculating your retirement age or estimating your projected payments, Social Security 101 has all the answers—even the ones you didn't know you were looking for.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2016
121 people are currently reading
308 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 10, 2017
A pretty well put together starting course. Covers all of the basics. This is truly a 101 course. Good for those just starting to understand the Social Security system. It is updated to reflect the huge change to some filing options (2015) than now no longer exist. There is adequate discussion of the history of SS, to better understand how society has changed. There is some side notes regarding how other countries' SS equivalent's goals.
I understand that this book is written to the majority of the population and takes into account the actual actions of the masses. Since Americans fail to save for the future and make poor investment choices, just about everyone suggests one delay taking SS payments until the last minute at age 70. But if you are reading this book in advance of retirement, then you are a planner and likely an investor. Some tools should be provided to help those determine if there is a different optimum retirement date to start their SS benefit.
And a "Break Even" analysis table is provided (at the same time it is discounted as not considered a proper discussion by the SSA). The inference made by the table is that if you delay taking you SS benefit to FRA or Age 70, then you must be working to support yourself during the interim. To better compare those options, I would assume money not received while waiting for FRA or beyond, must come from your savings and should be deducted from the FRA and Age 70 columns.
The sad reality is that some of us may never be able to afford to retire in our lifetimes, especially those of us who fail to plan ahead. We all need to wake up to the facts. Every SS discussion made uses the SSA approach of NO interest or COLA adjustments for comparison purposes. This simplifies some of the calculations, but does not allow one to fine tune the analysis to their personal situation.
Unfortunately, I have seen most of the discussion in this book already. I really am ready to move up to the upper division - 201 course. I would have also liked to see discussion on how to calculate the PIA and AIME for my personal situation. I know these calculations are even more sensitive to annual updates, but an example as to how to run the calculation would better my understanding of the system.
Have a GoodReads and if you are reading this review, Good Luck on your long and happy retirement.
I understand that this book is written to the majority of the population and takes into account the actual actions of the masses. Since Americans fail to save for the future and make poor investment choices, just about everyone suggests one delay taking SS payments until the last minute at age 70. But if you are reading this book in advance of retirement, then you are a planner and likely an investor. Some tools should be provided to help those determine if there is a different optimum retirement date to start their SS benefit.
And a "Break Even" analysis table is provided (at the same time it is discounted as not considered a proper discussion by the SSA). The inference made by the table is that if you delay taking you SS benefit to FRA or Age 70, then you must be working to support yourself during the interim. To better compare those options, I would assume money not received while waiting for FRA or beyond, must come from your savings and should be deducted from the FRA and Age 70 columns.
The sad reality is that some of us may never be able to afford to retire in our lifetimes, especially those of us who fail to plan ahead. We all need to wake up to the facts. Every SS discussion made uses the SSA approach of NO interest or COLA adjustments for comparison purposes. This simplifies some of the calculations, but does not allow one to fine tune the analysis to their personal situation.
Unfortunately, I have seen most of the discussion in this book already. I really am ready to move up to the upper division - 201 course. I would have also liked to see discussion on how to calculate the PIA and AIME for my personal situation. I know these calculations are even more sensitive to annual updates, but an example as to how to run the calculation would better my understanding of the system.
Have a GoodReads and if you are reading this review, Good Luck on your long and happy retirement.
December 8, 2023
Good info about social security and Medicare as we begin to prepare for our next chapter
September 20, 2018
This book reminds me of the Bible for Children. Lies and all the gore glossed over so that both children and adults have a vague impression of why they have to give money to the Church.
July 5, 2023
I read this book to help me develop an informed opinion on social security policy. I feel much more informed but I still don’t have a strong opinion. I’m generally anti-entitlement programs, but open to exceptions (ie. CHIP, Pell-grants, disability, etc.) Still not sure if SS fits into my exception category… probably it does?
Anyway, the book was well organized and informative. The downside is that it was dryyy. And I’m a guy who can endure some dry books. Also, I didn’t follow the authors logic at times when he defended certain aspects of social security. An example is how he related the fact that SS invests in US treasury bonds.
First, he used this as a counterargument to the notion that the govt uses SS to fund its expenditures. I think he asserted that they don’t spend your contributions; they invest them in treasury bonds… but treasury bonds are literally loans to the US government. So if the govt takes our money and then lends it to itself to spend, it is still spending that money, which is fine if it pays the bond when it matures, but the fact remains.
Along the same lines, in defense of SS’s solvency, he points out that not all of the SS payouts come from taxpayers. Some come from the returns gained on those treasury bonds. But where do you think the govt gets the money to pay 110 dollars back on a bond they bought for 100 dollars using your taxes? Answer: also from your taxes (or they just print it but that’s a whole other story).
I could be missing the mark here. The author was certainly knowledgeable so I feel that he maybe wasn’t wrong, so much as short on his explanations. Anyway, this is worth the read if you’re uncomfortable holding political opinions prior to reading books on said matters. Or maybe also if you’re planning for retirement and want to be incredibly thorough. Otherwise, don’t bother.
Anyway, the book was well organized and informative. The downside is that it was dryyy. And I’m a guy who can endure some dry books. Also, I didn’t follow the authors logic at times when he defended certain aspects of social security. An example is how he related the fact that SS invests in US treasury bonds.
First, he used this as a counterargument to the notion that the govt uses SS to fund its expenditures. I think he asserted that they don’t spend your contributions; they invest them in treasury bonds… but treasury bonds are literally loans to the US government. So if the govt takes our money and then lends it to itself to spend, it is still spending that money, which is fine if it pays the bond when it matures, but the fact remains.
Along the same lines, in defense of SS’s solvency, he points out that not all of the SS payouts come from taxpayers. Some come from the returns gained on those treasury bonds. But where do you think the govt gets the money to pay 110 dollars back on a bond they bought for 100 dollars using your taxes? Answer: also from your taxes (or they just print it but that’s a whole other story).
I could be missing the mark here. The author was certainly knowledgeable so I feel that he maybe wasn’t wrong, so much as short on his explanations. Anyway, this is worth the read if you’re uncomfortable holding political opinions prior to reading books on said matters. Or maybe also if you’re planning for retirement and want to be incredibly thorough. Otherwise, don’t bother.
August 28, 2024
Interesting handbook that details available options for retirement planning. It was also helpful to learn of what social security is and what it is not. Some of the details are advanced math classes, in that income brackets and spousal income change the entire scenario, as does the age at which someone chooses to begin taking social security benefits. Medicare is also described - which will still require the patient to cover a major portion of hospital stays during the initial 60 days. I found the volume helpful, informative and easy to read.
December 22, 2017
A solid and concise beginners' overview of the often-confusing mess that is our Social Security program(s).
I'd recommend everyone read it: if you're approaching "that age" and don't understand what's over the horizon - it offers good directive knowledge. If you're younger and just starting out professionally - start with a base understanding of where your money goes and what may or may not be available to you in later years.
I'd recommend everyone read it: if you're approaching "that age" and don't understand what's over the horizon - it offers good directive knowledge. If you're younger and just starting out professionally - start with a base understanding of where your money goes and what may or may not be available to you in later years.
March 18, 2022
A good book for someone about to near retirement age or who have parents that collect social security or other government benefits. The book is more broad than the title - it covers social security and any other form or government assistance like Medicare. It is comprehensive and detailed. Doesn’t get 5 stars because some of the examples are two complex or technical for the audience. Borrows heavily from free resources - so check there before spending money here.
August 29, 2017
Just OK. Much cut and paste from SSA website. Some significant misinformation regarding benefits while continuing to work. Too much filler - inconsequential and unrelated to subject at hand.
March 7, 2025
This is a bare-bones, big picture summary of Social Security. It doesn't go into specifics, but it is helpful if you're just starting out and want a wide overview of how things work in the US.
October 14, 2021
Useful information, but author makes some statements that I found to be either lazy or incorrect.
February 26, 2018
Excellent book to give you enough detail and advice on social security and things to consider for retirement. Great Job!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews