AARP's Social Security For Dummies® Helps Claimants, Beneficiaries and Their Families Understand and Navigate the Social Security System

HOBOKEN, N.J., April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Social Security protects almost every American family, covering more than nine in 10 workers (157 million). Retirees, workers with disabilities, survivors and family members of all ages receive benefits, and for many millions of people, Social Security is the foundation of financial well-being in retirement. Yet for all its importance, the program can be a complicated maze. People wonder whether they're eligible, how much of a benefit they may receive, when they should start collecting and whether Social Security will be there when they need it.

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For people who want the answers, AARP presents Social Security For Dummies® (Wiley, 978-1-118-20573-0, April 2012), giving readers the nuts and bolts of this far-reaching program in language that's easy to understand. The book explains the benefits you and your family might qualify for, how to apply, rules you should know, how Social Security fits into your retirement plans, and much more useful information. The book also offers considerations about the future of Social Security, leaving it up to readers to make up their own minds.

AARP's Social Security for Dummies answers these questions and more:

• When should you claim retirement benefits?
• What strategies can married couples use to get the most?
• Can your spouse collect benefits based on your work record?
• How does Social Security define disability?
• How do you challenge a decision by the Social Security Administration?
• How does continued working affect retirement benefits?
• Will Social Security be there for you?

For information on how to order the book, visit www.aarp.org/SS4Dummies. To view interview footage with the book's author, click here.

About the author:
Jonathan Peterson is Executive Communications Director and an expert on Social Security at AARP and an award-winning journalist. He is a former Washington correspondent for the Los Angeles Times. During his news career, he covered the White House, state and national political campaigns, and various facets of U.S. domestic and economic policy. He was a 2007 National Press Foundation fellow in the Retirement Issues in the 21st Century program, and served on the Los Angeles Times team that won the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for spot news coverage of the Los Angeles riots.

AARP's SOCIAL SECURITY FOR DUMMIES®
By Jonathan Peterson
ISBN: 978-1-118-20573-0, April 2012, 336 pages
**Wiley is the exclusive publisher of AARP-branded books**

About For Dummies®
After nearly 20 years and with more than 200 million copies printed, For Dummies is the world's bestselling reference series, well known for enriching people's lives by making knowledge accessible in a fun and easy way.  Loyal customers around the globe agree that For Dummies is "more than a publishing phenomenon … [it is] a sign of the times," [The New York Times].  The books span every section of the bookstore, covering topics from health to history, music to math, sports to self-help, technology to travel and more. The For Dummies brand presence is further expanded with the addition of eBooks, a corporate custom publishing program, a robust consumer website and a licensed product line that includes consumer electronics, culinary, crafts, video, software, musical instrument packs, home improvement, automotive, game and more.  For more information, visit Dummies.com. For Dummies is a branded imprint of Wiley.

About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a membership that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with nearly 35 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's millions of members and Americans 50+; AARP VIVA, our bilingual multimedia platform for Hispanic members; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

SOURCE AARP