Retirement Ready Nation Media has announced that Social Security Demystified: Smarter Claiming Decisions, a new book by Matt Maresch, will be released October 6, 2026. The book uses 62 case studies to show how Social Security rules can shape claiming decisions for different family and retirement situations. The announcement was issued September 29, 2026, from Wylie, Texas.
Beyond "When Should I File?"
The book treats Social Security as more than a single decision about when to file. Instead, it looks at how claiming age, work history, marriage, divorce, survivor benefits, disability, earnings and longevity can affect the outcome. The case studies are meant to show why two people of the same age can face very different decisions, based on their individual and family circumstances.
The publisher lists the topics covered as retirement benefit calculations, full retirement age, early claiming reductions, delayed retirement credits, spousal, survivor and divorced spousal benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance, benefits for eligible children, working while receiving benefits, taxation, and how Social Security fits alongside other retirement income. The examples are educational and are intended to help readers see which facts can change the analysis before they file.
"Social Security decisions often look simple until the rules begin interacting with each other. The goal of this book is to help readers understand what questions to ask, what tradeoffs to consider, and why a claiming decision should be evaluated in the context of the household rather than as an isolated age-based choice."