Social Security, Medicare and Government Pensions: Get the Most Out of Your Retirement and Medical Benefits »

Joseph Matthews has been an attorney since 1971, and from 1975 to 1977 he taught at the law school of the University of California, Berkeley. He has for many years been involved in matters relating to seniors, and is the author of Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions and Long Term Care: How to Plan & Play for It, as well as How to Win Your Personal Injury Claim.

Dorothy Matthews Berman assisted her son Joseph Matthews in the writing of Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions. She began working with seniors in various capacities in 1973 and served as Program Director at a senior citizen center in the Los Angeles area for many years.

Social Security, SSI, and Medicare explained! Get the most out of your retirement benefits and navigate the system with confidence

Everyone wants to get the highest possible retirement and pension income --not to mention the best medical coverage. This book is your guide to finding retirement benefits, figuring out the best time to claim them, and then doing so quickly and easily.

Social Security benefits
Find all the latest information and instructions you need to get your retirement and disability benefits, dependents and survivors benefits, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Medicare & Medicaid
Learn the nuts and bolts of both programs, plus how to qualify and apply for them. Understand Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage what it covers, how to apply for it and how to use it with your medigap policy, managed care plan or Medicaid.

Medical coverage options
Get the latest information on Medicare and Medicaid HMOs and other managed care plans, and learn about the different types of medigap health plans.

Government pensions & veterans benefits
Discover when and how to claim the benefits you have earned.

This edition contains a new chapter on Medicare Advantage Plans, including information about rapidly expanding private fee-for-service plans, plus new Social Security qualifying & benefit figures, and Medicare premium, deductible, copayment & coinsurance figures.

Pasadena Star-News

"Anyone who can write a readable guide to Medicare should get a medal.... Why can't the system be as straightforward as this book?"

Your Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions Companion 1

Social Security: The Basics 9

Social Security Retirement Benefits 45

Social Security Disability Benefits 65

Social Security Dependents Benefits 91

Social Security Survivors Benefits 103

When to Claim Social Security Benefits, and Which One to Claim 117

Supplemental Security Income 131

Applying for Benefits 147

Appealing a Social Security Decision 169

Federal Civil Service Retirement Benefits 197

Veterans Benefits 223

Medicare 237

Medicare Procedures: Enrollment, Claims, and Appeals 325

Medigap Insurance 377

Medicare Managed Care Plans 409

Medicaid and State Supplements to Medicare 433

Index 455