The last decade has presented major challenges for many Americans economic security. The most severe recession since the 1930s significantly impacted the national economy and household budgets. With high unemployment and a slow recovery, many Americans sought income from various sources, including unemployment and disability benefits, and some claimed Social Security retirement benefits earlier than they had planned. Through all of this, Social Security has remained the bedrock of retirement security, providing benefits to tens of millions of older Americans, while also providing benefits to survivors and other dependents, as well as workers with disabilities and their families. Social Security has helped reduce poverty among older Americans and people with disabilities; many beneficiaries rely on Social Security for the majority of their income. However, demographic shifts associated with the aging baby boom generation, along with the effects of the 2007 to 2009 recession, have strained Social Securitys finances. This book is intended to describe, in a concise and easy-to-understand way, the complexities of Social Security, the challenges the programs face, and the options available to address these challenges.