SSA Acronyms
The Social Security Administration, like all Government agencies, loves their acronyms. The following is a list of fairly common acronyms that we either see on a day-to-day basis, or encounter them with enough frequency that they are worth addressing here. With each acronym below, we add a little bit of explanation to make them more clear.
AACT: Abbreviated Account Query (used in Title II claims)
The term query, is an SSA term. A query is a computer printout containing internal coding that displays your payment history, claim history, denial codes, payment codes, etc. On occasion, we may ask you to request a AACT Query (Abbreviated Query), or a FACT query (Full Query).
Your local office personnel may tell you you are not entitled to them, but this is incorrect. Let us know as we had to initiate a class-action lawsuit against SSA several years ago for release of these queries. A federal court had determined that our clients were entitled to these printed queries under the Privacy Act of 1974.
AAJ: Administrative Appeals Judge (Appeals Council Adjudicator)
If the administrative law judge ALJ denies your claim, and we file an appeal to the appeals Council branch of SSA, the AA J will be the individual who will rule on your appeal
AC: Appeals Council
This is the body within SSA that will rule on any claims that are denied by the ALJ.
ACE: Average Current Earnings (factor used in Worker’s Compensation offset calculation)
This is a formula that SSA uses when a person receives Worker’s Compensation and has applied for Social Security disability. With the exception of a few states that are exempt (reverse states), a disabled American cannot receive more than 80% of his or her pre-disability earnings from public sources like Worker’s Compensation and Social Security. The term a CE represents the annual average of your earnings which will be the yardstick for this 80% rule.
After factoring in your monthly Workers Compensation payments, Social Security will pay an additional monthly disability benefit and will stop, once you reach 80% of your pre-disability wages. (ACE).
ADL: Activities of Daily Living
This refers to what a disabled person (Claimant) does on a typical day. In the past, the Disability Determination Services (DDS) would mail a Claimant a form called: The ADL Questionnaire. Now that form is more accurately titled. It is now called a Function Report. A Function Report is a SSA form used at the Initial and Reconsideration levels in order to understand what you do on a day-to-day basis. As we shared in the body of our webpages in explaining this process, they are generally used in an attempt to deny your claim.
ALJ: Administrative Law Judge
This is the individual who will preside over your case if you request a hearing. He or she will make the decision as to whether you’re disabled after an oral hearing. These oral hearings are generally in person, but because of the pandemic, they are being held by telephone. You can request an in-person hearing, but you won’t get a hearing date until the order is lifted within SSA.
AMM: Average Monthly Earnings (benefit calculation factor)
Like the ACE (see above), the a and am is basically a computation of your annual earnings averaged out on a monthly basis.
AOD: Alleged Onset of Disability or Alleged Onset Date
This is the date that you indicate on your initial application as the date you last worked, or the date your disability began. On occasion, we may amend the AOD. Sometimes the agency will approve your case with what we call an adverse AOD. This means they find a date that is different (later than) the date you last worked.
AR: Acquiescence Ruling
Whenever a ALJ denies the case and an appeal is made to Federal District Court and then denied again, an attorney can appeal further to a Circuit Court of Appeals. Whenever the Attorney wins at that Circuit Appeal level, the Social Security Administration will then update its regulations and they call these updates Acquiescence Rulings.
The Acquiescence Ruling will address the holding in the Circuit Appeals case, and that holding and that ruling will apply to all Social Security Claimants who live in that Federal Circuit.
AUSA: Assistant United States Attorney
Whenever an appeal is made to Federal District Court, the Attorney will negotiate and interact directly with the assistant US Attorney sitting in that Federal District Court. Once we file a complaint against the Social Security Administration in Federal Court, Social Security’s lawyers no longer interact with our office. All of our interaction and dealings are through the assistant US attorney until resolution of the law suit.
BHA: Bureau of Hearings and Appeals (former name of ODAR)
This is the SSA Hearing Office that will hear your appeal before the Administrative Law Judge
BO: Branch Office (sub office of a district office)
BWO: Blind Work Expenses
These refer to expenses that the agency will recognize as essential to getting to and from work, or expenses that are necessary for you to do your job. At the end of the month, you can deduct these BW owes from your gross income in an effort to get below the SSA threshold of substantial gainful activity (SGA).
CAB: Civil Actions Branch of Appeals Council
Once the appeals Council denies your case, and we file an appeal in federal District Court, SSA will internally transfer your case from the appeals Council, to the CAB.
This office will coordinate with the Assistant US attorney.
CALJ: Chief ALJ
Every SSA Hearing office has a Chief ALJ. This individual is not only in a leadership role, but will also hear and adjudicate cases. He or she will also rule on fee matters, and other technical types of appeals.
CE: Consultative Examination or Consultative Examiner
This is an exam that DDS will schedule at government expense and an “independent” doctor will conduct the exam an issue report to DDS.
On occasion, the ALJ will order a post hearing CE for the same purpose.
CFR: Code of Federal Regulations
This is the book or publication that SSA will use to explain, and interpret their regulations based on the law or amendments passed and adopted by Congress. In addition, when SSA amends their rules or their definitions of disability, these amendments will be updated in the CFR.
CIB: Child’s Insurance Benefits (used in Title II claims)
These are monthly payments made to your dependents if you’re approved for Social Security. The Agency refers to these additional people who are entitled to a monthly benefit on your work record as Auxiliary Beneficiaries.
COBRA: Comprehensive Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
This is an employer-sponsored health insurance that most employers are required to offer you upon termination for any reason including medical reasons. You can elect to purchase COBRA coverage through your employers health plan, at a monthly expense that you are responsible for. Many of our clients cannot afford COBRA coverage and they end up uninsured.
COBRA coverage will last up to 18 months, but if you’re approved for Social Security Disability, you can get an extension up to 36 months from the date you last worked.
COLA: Cost of Living Adjustment
If you’re approved for Social Security disability, or SSI, every November, Social Security will announce an increase in your monthly benefit. The increase is based on the consumer price index and other factors and takes effect on January 1 of the next year.
DAA: Drug Addiction and/or Alcoholism / Drugs and Alcohol
If your disabling condition is exacerbated or impacted by your use of drugs and/or alcohol, Social Security can deny your claim based on the DAA rules.
In short, if the use of alcohol or drugs are a contributing factor material to the issue of your disability, the SSA can deny your claim on the basis of DAA.
DAC: Disabled Adult Child (used in Title II claims)
This refers to a review of your Social Security claim, once you turn age 18. If you received disability benefits as a minor because of a disability, then the agency is required by law to reassess your claim when you reach the age of majority using the adult disability definition. We explain this more and other pages (see Legal Services)
DED: Disability Evaluation Division (The State Agency)
This is the staff at DDS (Examiners, etc) that reviews claims and makes the medical decision of whether or not you are disabled.
DEQY: Detailed Earnings Query (used in Title II claims)
This is a printout which will display all of your earnings for the respective years in which you worked. As well as the Employer, their Federal EIN, and the total earned from that Employer in a particular year. This document is critical to ensure that the earnings you actually have are recognized by, and registered with Social Security.
On occasion, we’ve had self-employed individuals paid taxes on their income, but were not paid through traditional payroll, and as a result, their earnings record on their seek we are all zeros. It takes some effort to fix this problem. So if you are self-employed and reading this, you should contact us for more information.
DDS: Disability Determination Service (The State Agency)
This is the state agency that will make the finding of disability at the initial, and reconsideration stages of the SSA claims process. Once you file a claim or appeal, your file is routed from your field office (FO) to the DDS office in your state. They make the decision.
On occasion, the ALJ will kick your claim back to DDS for further development which is usually in the form of a SSA Consultative Exam.
DHHS: Department of Health and Human Services (former SSA parent agency)
DI: Disabled Individual (used in Title XVI claims)
This is an acronym you will find on a computer printout for DDS claims. The computer printout for Title II claims is called a Master Beneficiary Report (MBR). It may have a reference to a DI claim, but we would need to run a SSI query to confirm. The SSI query will have a reference to DI, which means the individual is solely a SSI recipient.
DIB: Disability Insurance Benefits (used in Title II claims)
This is a reference to individuals who have paid sufficiently into FICA to be eligible for Title II Social Security Disability. On a printout called a Master Beneficiary Report (MBR), this line will indicate that the individual is Title II eligible, and will display the onset
DJ: District Judge
DLI: Date Last Insured (used in Title II claims)
DLI: Date Last Insured (used in Title II claims)
This is a critical date for any disabled American. This date represents the last day of a particular quarter in which your FICA contributions expired. If you have a spotty work record, or haven’t paid into FICA in five years, then it’s likely you are already passed your DLI. If you file a claim after your DLI, proving Disability is much harder.
On the other hand, if you file a claim shortly after you leave work, you’re still insured for up to five years after you stop making FICA contributions. Clients often call us and want our help, but given their spotty work record, or their not having worked in several years, the first thing we instruct them to do is contact SSA to confirm this date. This will give us a much better roadmap as to where to go from here. The majority of our clients are still within their Date Last Insured status and are protected from filing a Title II claim.
If you receive a decision and there is a reference at the bottom of page 1 or on page 2 about your Date Last Insured, this means that you have not proven your disability within the window in which you were insured. You should call us for more information.
DLM: Date Last Met (same as Date Last Insured)
Is the same acronym as the Date Last Insured.
DO: District Office (local Social Security Administration field office)
This of the Social Security field office that has jurisdiction over your particular ZIP Code. You will often read us referring to the FO in status star, which means we have interacted with the local field office that has jurisdiction of your claim. If you go to SSA’s website, at the bottom, there is a link that reads: contact us. From there, you can type in your ZIP Code and it will display your local field office.
DOB: Date of Birth
DOE: Date of Entitlement (applies to Title II claims)
This is the first day of the calendar month in which you are entitled to monthly cash benefits. For SSI claims, it’s generally the first month after the date of the Application. For Title 2 SSDI claims, it’s usually the first date after the five-month waiting period has expired.
DOT: Dictionary of Occupational Titles
This is a federal publication that lists every job in the United States economy by sector. The deal he will include the internal reference number as well as the sitting and lifting requirements, and a brief or sometimes details description of the duties of that particular occupation. The ALJ will ask the vocational experts questions about your limitations, and whether or not your limitations prevent you from performing jobs that exist in significant numbers in the national economy, and that are listed in the DOT.
DSM: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
This is a medical publication which is presently in its 5th printing (DSM 5) and it lists every mental disorder that is accepted by the medical and mental health community. Each disorder is accompanied by signs and symptoms that are required for a positive diagnosis.
EAJA: Equal Access to Justice Act
This is a Federal law that allows for the payment of Attorney fees, when an individual is forced to sue the Social Security ministration for relief, and wins. If we represent you in a claim that progresses to federal court and we secure benefits, we will seek these EAJA fees to reimburse us for the work we’ve done.
EPE: Extended Period of Eligibility (applies to Title II claims)
This is a Post Entitlement program baked into the Social Security Act and Regulations that allow you to continue receiving monthly Social Security Disability benefits for any month that you are not working, or working, but earning less than the statutory amount.
The EPE will kick in at the expiration of the nine-month Trial Work Period (TWP) which every disabled American is entitled to. And under the EPE, you can potentially receive an additional 36 months of benefits for those months that you qualify.
ER: Earnings Record
These are Social Security printouts or queries, that are generated from the SSA mainframes. These query printouts will either display a Summary of all the earnings you had in a particular calendar year (SEQY), or a detailed list of all the earnings you had in a particular year listing the employer, there Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), along with the earnings at that particular employer paid you during a particular calendar year. This printout is called a DEQY (Detailed Quarterly Earnings Report)
FMAX: Family Maximum (Title II benefit limit)
This is the maximum monthly amount of cash benefits that a particular person is entitled to based on his/her FICA contributions. The Family Max is generally 1.5 times the individuals monthly benefit amount. In some cases, low-wage earners have not paid enough FICA credits to qualify for a Family Max, or the Family Max in their case is less than 1.5 times their monthly benefit.
FO: Field Office (a district office or a branch office)
This is the local Social Security office that will service your ZIP Code. Once you file a claim for Social Security Disability or SSI, the electronic printout from your electronic application, is handled by your local Field Office. From there, they route your file to the Disability Determination Services in their state who will make the medical decision as to whether or not you are disabled. The Field Office does not make this medical decision.
FOIA: Freedom of Information Act
This is the federal law that allows an individual to get public information from the government. If you want specific information from your particular claim file, then the privacy act of 1974 would apply to your request, not the Freedom of Information Act.
GLPSC: Great Lakes Program Service Center – PC4
This is one of several regional Payment Centers (PC’s) scattered throughout the country. Once you become entitled to Disability benefits, and you attain the age of 55, payment of your monthly benefits falls to the jurisdiction of one of these regional PCs. The Great Lakes Program Service Center, PC 4, services disabled and retired individuals whose Social Security numbers are in a certain sequence. Namely, if the first 3 numbers of your SSN fall within the following range: 268-302, 316-399, 700-728, 731, then PC 4 will have jurisdiction if you are over age 55.
HA: Hearing Assistant
This is the individual who works at the office of hearing operations (OHO) and he or she will assist the Judge with various duties including recording the hearing.
HALLEX: Hearings, Appeals and Litigation Law [Lex] (Office of Hearings and Appeals policy manual)
This is the internal operating regulations of the Social Security Hearing Offices (OHO). The HALLEX addresses jurisdictional and procedural matters as to how the hearing offices are to handle claims, inquiries, hearings, issues of fees etc. We often refer to the HALLEXX when we are submitting documents or clarifying certain procedural issues.
HCFA: Health Care Finance Administration
Created in 1977, the HCFA is part of the Department of Health and Human Services and their job is to oversee the Medicare program, and the federal spending portion of each individual state’s Medicaid program. Medicaid is a product of both state and federal funding, so the eligibility rules can change annually.
HE: Hearing Examiner (former title of Administrative Law Judge)
If you have been approved for Social Security, and the Agency is now reviewing your case one more time to see if you remain disabled, part of the appeal process is a hearing before a DDS official. This official’s title is generally referred to as the Hearing Examiner in his or her report. If the Hearing Examiner determines that you are no longer disabled, you can appeal that decision to the Administrative Law Judge.
HIA: Health Insurance, Part A – Medicare
Once you’re approved for Social Security disability, you are entitled to Medicare parts a and B after 24 months of eligibility. Medicare Part A covers hospital visits and inpatient visits and skilled nursing facilities.
HIB: Health Insurance, Part B – Medicare
Medicare Part B covers doctor’s visits, tests, bloodwork, etc.
HOCALJ: Hearing Office Chief Administrative Law Judge
Every Hearing Office (OHO) has a Chief Administrative Law Judge. This is the judge that not only has a working caseload, but sits in a leadership role and oversees the operations of the hearing office including the Judges.
HOM: Hearing Office Manager
This individual is in a middle management role at the hearing’s office, and coordinates in overseas operations within the office. When you receive your acknowledgment of hearing, this is the individual who has signed that document.
HPI: Hearing Process Improvement
HPI was an initiative taken on by the Social Security ministration, to improve hearing wait times and improve the hearing process overall. It started in 2000, and it appears to be ongoing.
ICD: International Classification of Diseases
These refer to billing and diagnoses codes that your doctors and hospitals will reference in your medical records. Presently, the SSA utilizes ICD-9 codes. The Social Security Law Group utilizes the ICD-10 codes which are updated and much more comprehensive. When you log into your StatusStar profile, under the Disabling Conditions menu, we will list all of the diagnoses that you informed us about, and their corresponding ICD-10 code. This is why it’s important not to use terms like back pain, bad knees, etc. When we file your initial claim, we will be referring to these diagnostic codes that are found in your medical records.
ID: Initial Determination
This is a SSA term, and it refers to the decision that they made on your Initial claim. If the Agency is performing a Continuing Disability Review (CDR), then their initial finding is also referenced in their coding as an ID.
IME: Independent Medical Examiner – Worker’s Compensation term
This term is used interchangeably in a Worker’s Compensation claim. It means a “independent” doctor will examine the injured worker and make findings as to the degree of impairment, cause of injury, loss of function, etc.
The SSA does not use Independent Medical Examiners. When they seek additional information, they will schedule something they call a Consultative Exam. (CE). This is an exam that they will schedule at their expense. As we state in other sections of this website, the CE is generally a superficial exam, with a brief, superficial exchange of information. The CE Examiners are thoroughly conversant with the different definitions of disability as they relate to your age, education, etc. (The Grids). We often find their determinations consistent with Grid rules that mandate a Denial of benefits. Don’t go it alone.
IRWE: Impairment-Related Work Expense
These are different expenses that you can deduct from your salary in order to reduce the amount you have earned in a particular month, and bring it below the threshold of Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) are things like transportation, a computer, wheelchair etc. The Agency will take your gross income, then deduct the approved impairment related work expenses, and come to a net income figure. If that figure is below the SGA threshold, that month of income will not count against you.
ISM: In-Kind Support and Maintenance (applies to Title XVI claims)
If your claim is for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), there are certain types of income that will disqualify you from receiving SSI benefits. These ISM’s are a value of expenses that family and friends are providing to you, and the Agency is authorized to analyze these and give them a dollar value to determine if you still qualify for SSI.
LSDP: Lump-Sum Death Payment
This is a one-time payment that the Agency will pay to a dead person. The current amount is $255. It hasn’t change in decades.
MA: Medical Advisor (former title of a Medical Examiner)
This is the individual at DDS, who is a Doctor. He or she will review the work up that was developed by the DDS examiner (LEX). Once they receive the work up, they will make a determination as to whether or not your medical condition meets a SSA Listing, or whether through the Medical-Vocational rules apply (The Grids). They have the authority to approve the case. They don’t usually prepare a brief write right up and analysis that is part of your evidentiary record. They rely on the one that the Examiner prepared. This will be part of your Electronic Records Express (ERE). We will get access to this analysis when your case gets to a Hearing.
MAMPSC: Mid-America Program Service Center – PC6
This is a Regional Payment Center that is responsible for managing and dispersing your lump sum, and ongoing monthly payments for individuals who are over age 55 and whose Social Security numbers were issued within that geographical region. The Mid-America PSC is located in Kansas City, MO and manages the following SSN’s (First 3 Numbers) 303-315, 429-500, 505-515, 525, 585, 627-645, 648-649, 659-665, 676-679, 732, 868-899
In addition to managing payments, there is a small Disability Adjudication Unit within the Payment Center, and if you file an initial claim and you are over age 55, your SSN is managed by this PSC, and your condition meets some other criteria, it is likely that the DDS function will be handled by the Mid-America PSC.
MATPSC: Mid-Atlantic Program Service Center – PC2
This is another Regional Payment Center that is responsible for managing and dispersing your lump sum, and ongoing monthly payments for individuals who are over age 55 and whose Social Security numbers were issued within that geographical region. The Mid-America PSC is located in Philadelphia, PA and manages the following SSN’s (First 3 Numbers) 135-222, 232-236, 577-584, 569-599, 691-699, 809-826
In addition to managing payments, there is a small Disability Adjudication Unit within the Payment Center, and if you file an initial claim and you are over age 55, your SSN is managed by this PSC, and your condition meets some other criteria, it is likely that the DDS function will be handled by the Mid-Atlantic PSC.
MBR: Master Beneficiary Record (applies to Title II claims)
This is a internal computer coded printout that will display lines of coding, which will tell us your filing history, decision dates, payment information, payment history, etc. The MBR provides a myriad of very valuable data points that is very useful in Social Security representation.
Unfortunately, the Agency often give you mis-information when you ask about this document and will tell you that it’s for SSA internal use only. If you are told this by any SSA personnel, please contact us immediately. We are still under a consent decree with the Agency to release this information to Americans seeking it.
ME: Medical Expert – (designated physician at Office of Hearings Operations level)
This Individual is a Doctor who the Judge has asked to testify at your hearing. It was much more common to have a ME at ALJ hearings in the past. But now, their presence at hearings is reserved for complicated medical issues that involve impairments like eyesight, rare diseases, and multitude of diagnoses.
We have made motions in the past to direct that the Judge call a ME to testify at the hearing. When those motions a denied, usually through laziness of the ALJs assistant, that’s an appealable issue.
The ME will be asked by the Judge if your condition Meets or Equals a Social Security Listing. If the ME agrees, then your case is generally approved. If the ME testifies that your medical condition does not Meet or Equal a Listing, the Judge will then ask he or she to provide a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) based on the medical evidence. From there, your Attorney better be prepared for intense cross-examination and site to exhibits and know them. Don’t risk it.
MER: Medical Evidence of Record (also MEOR)
This is a fancy acronym for the medical records that are in your electronic file with SSA. You will often see references in our StatusStar platform to us submitting MER. When we use the term MERQ, we mean we’re requesting records from a specific Doctor of yours. When we use the term MERS, we have submitted those records to the Agency.
MIB: Mother’s Insurance Benefits (applies to Title II claims)
If you die and have met the Insured Status at the time of your death, your surviving or divorced spouse will be entitled to monthly cash benefits on your work record until your youngest child reaches the age of 16. At that point, your Spouse’s benefits cease, and that monthly amount gets rolled in and redistributed to the surviving children’s benefits until the youngest one reaches 18.
MRFC: Mental Residual Function Capacity
This refers to claims that involve a psychiatric component. It’s the term that the agency uses to analyze whether you can do work related activities from a mental standpoint. Some of the mental RFC items include the ability to: Understand, Remember or Apply information, Interact with Others, Concentrate, Persist, or Maintain Pace, etc. These are the part B criteria that we reference in our section called Psychiatric Claims.
MSS: Medical Source Statement
This is an opinion from either your treating sources, or more frequently, the DDS Medical Advisor who will opine and provide an analysis as to your ability to perform work related activities.
NEPSC: Northeastern Program Service Center – PC1
This is another Regional Payment Center that is responsible for managing and dispersing your lump sum, and ongoing monthly payments for individuals who are over age 55 and whose Social Security numbers were issued within that geographical region. The Northeast PSC is located in Jamaica, NY and manages the following SSN’s (First 3 Numbers) 001-134, 729, 805-808
In addition to managing payments, there is a small Disability Adjudication Unit within the Payment Center, and if you file an initial claim and you are over age 55, your SSN is managed by this PSC, and your condition meets some other criteria, it is likely that the DDS function will be handled by the Northeast PSC.
NH: Number Holder – “Wage Earner” (applies to Title II claims)
You, the applicant are the number holder.
OASDI: Old-Age, Survivor & Disability Insurance (applies to Title II claims)
This refers to individuals who are applying for Disability, Death or Retirement benefits who have paid sufficiently into FICA to be insured at the time of their Application, Retirement, or Death.
OCO: Office of Central Operations – Baltimore, MD – PC9
This is the main Payment Center, and it is located in Baltimore. If you’re under age 55 and you’ve been approved for Social Security Disability, or SSI, it is this Payment Center that will be managing your benefits until you reach the age of 55. Once you reach the age 55, management of your benefits is transferred to a Regional Payment Center.
ODAR: Office of Disability, Adjudication and Review (formerly OHA)
This was the term that Commissioner JoAnn Barnhart gave to the SSA Hearing Office. It was originally called the Office of Hearings and Appeals for decades. She then changed it to become the ODAR. It is now called the Office of Hearings Operations (OHO).
ODIO: Office of Disability & International Operations – Baltimore, MD – PC8
This office will have jurisdiction over US Citizens and FICA paying applicants and Beneficiaries that live overseas. So far, we’ve represented clients in the United Kingdom, and in the Philippines. The DDS function of these claims were performed by the ODIO.
OGC: Office of General Counsel
This is the department where SSA’s lawyers work. Each SSA Regional Office has an Office of General Counsel, as does the SSA Headquarters in Baltimore. These Attorneys deal with matters that arise from the Local Field Offices to investigations, SSA policy, etc.
OHA: Office of Hearings and Appeals (former name of ODAR)
The SSA Hearing office was originally called the Office of Hearings and Appeals for decades. It was changed around 2001-2002 to become the ODAR. It is now the Office of Hearings Operations (OHO).
OIG: Office of the Inspector General
This office handles whistleblower complaints as well as fraud investigations involving, SSA Claimant’s (those applying for benefits), SSA Beneficiaries (those receiving SSA benefits) and SSA personnel in both the Field Offices and Hearings Offices. A Whistle Blower would probably call the OIG first.
OP: Over Payment
This term refers to those instances in which SSA paid you monthly benefits and they shouldn’t have. They call this an overpayment.
OPIR: Office of Program Integrity Review
This office deals with issues regarding the internal operations of SSA, and whether the programs are being run in a way that’s consistent with the Social Security Act, Congressional intent, etc. For example, if an Attorney tries to charge you a fee that was not approved by the Agency, this office may be the people investigating it along with the OIG (office of Inspector General).
PA: Privacy Act
This was an Act of Congress in 1974, which authorized Americans greater access to records and files that the US government has over people. Every federal agency must comply with the Privacy Act of 1974. This law firm was involved in litigation as to the release of printed queries as they relate to Americans filing for, and receiving Social Security Disability Benefits. We are presently under a Consent Decree.
PASS: Plan to Achieve Self Support (applies to Title XVI claims)
This refers to SSA’s internal protocols and programs that are encouraging a Supplemental Security Income recipient who is trying to return to work. If you’re receiving SSI, you can contact your local Social Security office who can set you up with private organizations that are part of the PASS initiative. Again, this initiative is to encourage and assist you in returning to work. There are significant incentives to a PASS plan, and we always encourage that you enroll in one if you can.
PE: Post Entitlement (applies to Title II claims)
This refers to any action SSA takes after you’ve been approved for benefits. Once you’re approved for benefits, you’re considered a Beneficiary. Prior to that, you’re considered a Claimant
PEBES: Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement
This is a printout that you can request by calling Social Security. This printout will give you all of the FICA contributions you made over the years, as well as a estimate of your monthly benefits for Disability, Retirement, and Survivors benefits.
PIA: Primary Insurance Amount (base benefit rate)
This is the monthly benefit that you are initially entitled to based on your FICA contributions. This term is used for your initial Disability, Retirement, or Survivors benefits. From there, you’re benefit will be increased every January based on the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) that Social Security will announce each November. The higher your FICA contributions during your working years, the greater your PIA.
POMS: Program Operations Manual System
This refers to SSA’s internal playbook. It is their user manual, and it is a training and important resource for both Attorneys practicing Social Security, and SSA personnel. We often refer to the POMS when we are dealing with our local Field Offices for post award matters on behalf of our clients. If the Agency behaves in such a way that is contrary to their own POMS, it is often a source of litigation in the courts. Just about every major challenge to Social Security Regulations were because of the Agency’s posture as it related to their own POMS. This law firm has challenged certain Agency POMS as well.
PRW: Past Relevant Work
This is a critical analysis in adjudicating Disability claims. Past Relevant Work refers to the kind of work you did over the last 15 years prior to your onset of Disability. The PRW analysis involves classifying the type of work as Sedentary, Light, Medium, and Heavy. In addition, they analyze whether or not you learned skills in those jobs that are transferable to other types of jobs and other types of work at different exertional levels. For example, if you can perform your Past Relevant Work, you will be considered Not Disabled at Step Four (of the 5 step evaluation process).
If your PRW was unique and does not, nor ever existed in Significant Numbers in the national economy, you will be found Not Disabled if the Agency believes you can return to that unique, past job. This issue was a question before the Supreme Court in 2003. (Commissioner v. Thomas, 540 U.S. 20) . The Justices found that even though this Claimant’s Past Relevant Work was unique and did not exist in significant numbers in the national economy, when the Judge determined that the Claimant retained the Residual Functional Capacity to perform that job, it correctly resulted in a Denial of benefits at step four.
PSC: Program Service Center
These are the Regional Payment Centers that are spread out throughout the country that manage benefits for Americans who are over age 55. These Regional Payment Centers are based on a geographical location, and based on where your SSN was issued.
QA: Quality Assurance
This term has several meanings, and we see it pop up in different places, sometimes unexpectedly. If your case is at the Initial or Reconsideration level, there is a QA unit made up of SSA employees that can overturn the findings of DDS, and/or change the onset of your Disability. They call this the QDR.
If the Administrative Law Judge approves your case at the Hearing level, there is a QA unit in the Payment Center. At one time, they used to call this unit OPAQA. (Office of Program Administration, Quality Assurance). Their job was to troll ALJ awards for reasons to overturn them, or to Remand them back to the Judge for further development or clarification. We’re not big fans.
QC: Quarter of Coverage (applies to Title II claims)
This term refers to the number of calendar Quarters in which you have paid sufficiently into FICA, to qualify for either Disability, Retirement, or Survivors benefits. The amount of earnings changes every year. In 2021, the amount necessary to earn a QC is $1,470.00
QMB: Qualified Medicare Beneficiary
This term refers to the individuals who have paid sufficiently into FICA, and are eligible for Medicare as a result of entitlement to Title II Social Security Disability, or Old Age, Retirement benefits.
RC: Regional Commissioner of SSA
This is one of many Associate and Deputy Commissioners within the ranks of the Social Security’s leadership. In addition to the Headquarters in Baltimore, there are 10 Social Security Regional Offices around the United States. They are located in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle.
Each of these offices have not only a Regional Commissioner, but about six or seven Deputy Regional Commissioners for different areas of SSA’s operations. This is in addition to the 25 or so Deputy Commissioners at the SSA headquarters in Baltimore.
RCALJ: Regional Chief ALJ
Within each Regional Office, is a Deputy Commissioner that oversees the operations of the SSA Hearing office (OHO) and the Judges within that geographic region. The Chief Judge in those regions is called the Regional Chief Administrative Law Judge (RCALJ). He or she has decision making power on matters over operations within the Hearing Offices as well as Fee issues or appeals of certain Orders that are issued by the hearing Judge.
RFC: Residual Functional Capacity
This is another critical term within the meaning of Social Security Disability evaluation. Residual functional capacity refers to your ability to lift, carry, stand, reach, pull, climb ladders, etc. If your claim involves a mental diagnosis, RFC refers to your mental ability to perform such work-related activities like Understand, Remember, or Apply information, Interact with Others, Concentrate, Persist, or Maintain Pace, etc. These are the part B criteria that we reference in our section called Psychiatric Claims.
RFH: Request for Hearing
This is the third stage in the SSA claims process. If your Initial claim is denied, you would file a Request for Reconsideration. If that is denied, you would then file a Request for Hearing before the Administrative Law Judge
RFR: Request for Reconsideration
This is the second stage in the SSA claims process. If your Initial claim is denied, you would file a Request For Reconsideration.
RIB: Retirement Insurance Benefits (applies to Title II claims)
this is for individuals who have paid sufficiently into FICA, and have now reached retirement age. If you file for retirement benefits before your normal retirement age, not only will your monthly amount be discounted because you took it early, but your subject to a strict earnings limits. Once you exceed the earnings limits then SSA is authorized to reduce your monthly retirement benefit based on your earnings. If you file and receive retirement at your normal retirement age, you can work as much as you want and still collect your monthly retirement benefits with no penalty. This was part of the Ticket to Work Act.
RRB: Railroad Retirement Board
This is an administrative body within the US Rail Road system. If you or your spouse have worked in the Railroad industry for a specified number of years, when you file a claim for Social Security Disability, the Railroad Retirement Board may be the entity that takes jurisdiction of your Disability claim. If you’re approved, some of your monthly benefit will come from the Railroad Retirement board, and some of it from Social Security. We assist claimants who have worked in the US Railroad system.
For most Americans who worked in the Railroad Retirement system, jurisdiction of their SS Disability claim is still managed by Social Security. If approved, Social Security’s benefit is the primary benefit with the Railroad Retirement system contributing to that monthly benefit based on your Railroad earnings.
SDI: State Disability Insurance
This refers to a State-funded Disability system for individuals who are residents of certain states. For example, if you’re a California Resident, you are entitled to 52 weeks of what they call, California SDI. Any receipt of California SDI as well other state disability payments, are subject to the SSA’s 80% rule. Under the 80% rule, one cannot be paid more than 80% of their pre-Disability wages from all public sources, which would include Social Security Disability benefits, Worker’s Compensation, and State Disability Insurance.
SEPSC: Southeastern Program Service Center – PC3
This is another Regional Payment Center that is responsible for managing and dispersing your SSA Lump Sum (Retroactive benefit), and ongoing monthly payments for individuals who are over age 55 and whose Social Security numbers were issued within that geographical region. The Southeast PSC is located in Birmingham, AL and manages the following SSN’s (First 3 Numbers) 223-331, 237-267, 400-428, 587-595, 654-658, 681-690, 730, 752-763, 766-804
In addition to managing payments, there is a small Disability Adjudication Unit within the Payment Center, and if you file an initial claim and you are over age 55, your SSN is managed by this PSC, and your condition meets some other criteria, it is likely that the DDS function will be handled by the Southeastern PSC.
SEQY: Summary Earnings Query (applies to Title II claims)
This is a computer printout which will indicate all the years in which you made FICA contributions. This printout will display each year, the total FICA contributions that you’ve made based on your work. We use this SEQY to determine if you have paid sufficiently into FICA to be eligible for Title II Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI). We also use it to calculate your Date Last Insured (DLI).
SGA: Substantial Gainful Activity
This term refers to income from work activity that reaches a certain threshold to be considered substantial. The amount that qualifies as SGA changes every year. The SGA amount for 2021, is $1,310.00. In addition to income from work, illegal activities such as drug dealing, bookmaking etc. could be considered SGA. There are actual cases in which this activity was uncovered by the Agency, and they determined this activity to be Substantial and Gainful.
Many Americans call us for representation and inform us that they’re still working, either Full-Time or Part-Time. You cannot be working, and qualify for Social Security Disability. If your income exceeds SGA. If your income does, then you will be considered Not Disabled (Denial at Step 1), irrespective of your medical condition.
SIB: Spouse’s Insurance Benefits (applies to Title II claims)
If you’re approved for Social Security, and your spouse is an active caretaker for any child under age 16, your spouse will be eligible for a portion of your Family Maximum benefit. Once the youngest child turns age 16, your spouse’s portion of your Family Maximum benefit will be redistributed and reallocated to your minor children until the oldest one reaches 18.
SSRT: Simple, Routine, Repetitive Task
This refers to a Step Four, and Step Five analysis as to whether you can perform other work. This generally is triggered in psychiatric claims. In order to qualify, we have to prove that you cannot perform basic unskilled work, which involves simple, routine, repetitive task, with little to no contact with the public, little to no contact with coworkers, and only superficial contact with supervisors. It’s not an easy standard. Don’t go it alone.
SSA: Social Security Administration
SSDC: Social Security concurrent claim (Title II and Title XVI)
These are for individuals who have paid sufficiently into FICA, but whose earnings may not be high enough for a sufficient monthly benefit. In addition, certain claimants may qualify for SSI during the SSDI five-month waiting. It will depend on the date of application, and date of onset from Social Security. We often have clients who have concurrent claims.
SSDI: Social Security Disability Insurance (applies to Title II claims)
This is the type of benefit that people will apply for if they have sufficient FICA credits and have paid into FICA for 20 out of the last 40 quarters, and have 40 quarters overall during their working life. If your disability begins before age 22, there is a reduced FICA requirement. You can call us for more information.
SSI: Supplemental Security Income (applies to Title XVI claims)
This Disability program is for people who have not paid sufficiently into FICA, or they haven’t worked in over five years, and they are beyond their Date Last Insured. In addition to qualifying with a medical disability, one has to meet certain non-medical earnings tests in order to receive SSI benefits.
SSID: SSI Display (computer query)
This is a computer printout, much like the Master Beneficiary Report (MBR). Only this one is for SSI claims. This printout will have coding regarding date of eligibility, application date, entitlement, etc.
SSP: State Supplementary Payments (optional state Supplemental Security Income add-on)
Depending on state funding, if you qualify for SSI, you may be eligible for an additional monthly benefit which originates from State funds. Once approved for SSI, you can check with your local Field Office who will guide you to the appropriate State agency that manages this program for your state.
SSR: Social Security Ruling
These are regulations that the Agency will issue after it has either won, or lost a decision in either the US Supreme Court, or the US Circuit Appellate Courts. On some occasions, if SSA loses at the District Court level, they may appeal the District Court Judge’s decision to the Federal Circuit Appeals Court. On other occasions, it’s the Claimant who will appeal a decision to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. If the Court of Appeals issues a decision adverse to SSA, the Agency may publish something they call a Acquiescence Ruling.
The Acquiescence Ruling is an acknowledgement that the Circuit Court disagrees with SSA’s position on a particular issue. The Agency will then issue guidance to Claimants, Judges, and SSA personnel, on how to handle a specific issue for that particular SSA region. For example, Social Security rulings are often to be applied only within a certain US Federal Circuit. If the ruling is from the United States Supreme Court, then it applies nationwide.
Title 2: Social Security Disability Insurance
This is the type of benefit that people will apply for if they have sufficient FICA credits and have paid into FICA for 20 out of the last 40 quarters, and have 40 quarters overall during their working life. If your disability begins before age 22, there is a reduced FICA requirement. You can call us for more information.
Title II: Social Security Disability Insurance
This is the type of benefit that people will apply for if they have sufficient FICA credits and have paid into FICA for 20 out of the last 40 quarters, and have 40 quarters overall during their working life. If your disability begins before age 22, there is a reduced FICA requirement. You can call us for more information.
Title 16: Supplemental Security Income
This Disability program is for people who have not paid sufficiently into FICA, or they haven’t worked in over five years, and they are beyond their date last insured. In addition to qualifying with a medical disability, one has to meet certain non-medical earnings tests in order to receive SSI benefits.
Title XVI: Supplemental Security Income
This Disability program is for people who have not paid sufficiently into FICA, or they haven’t worked in over five years, and they are beyond their date last insured. In addition to qualifying with a medical disability, one has to meet certain non-medical earnings tests in order to receive SSI benefits.
TWP: Trial Work Period (applies to Title II claims)
this term refers to individuals who have been approved for Social Security Disability, but have returned to work even Part Time. If you’re a Social Security Beneficiary, and you return to work Part Time and earn over certain amount in a calendar month, that month will count as a Trial Work period. Once you reach nine months of Trial Work Period, then your Disability benefits will end. The monthly amount of a trial work period for 2021, is $1,310.00 for most Americans and $2,190.00 for Blind Americans.
UI: Unemployment Insurance
Unemployment Insurance is MUCH different than Social Security Disability. Several of our clients have received Unemployment after they’ve been let go from their jobs, either because of a medical condition or not. You want to be very careful. Receiving Unemployment is telling a State Agency that gets Federal Government funding that you are ready, willing and able to work, but you just can’t find a job.
Receiving Social Security Disability is a Federal program funded exclusively by Federal dollars where you’re telling the Federal Government that you’re ready, willing, but unable to work because of a medical condition.
In addition, you’re always required to sign a statement prior to receiving Unemployment Insurance that you are not under a Disability. This gets very tricky at the ALJ level. The ALJ’s don’t like people who apply for, and receive Unemployment Insurance while there applying for Social Security Disability. In fact, there have been several pieces of Congressional legislation aimed at integrating the two benefits.
In one bill, the Agency would reduce your Social Security Disability benefit by any Unemployment benefits received. In other versions of the bill, you could not claim disability until your unemployment ran out. That would affect your Date of Entitlement to Disability (DOED), Medicare, and dramatically reduce your lump sum. You should call us immediately if you’re under a disability and you’re receiving Unemployment.
Many of our clients received relief because of the Covid-19 Pandemic. We are yet to confirm how this receipt of money is going to play out at the ALJ Hearings. We will update the site as we experience more incidents of our clients receiving Covid-19 relief.
USC: United States Code
This is the Federal Statutes that is the Social Security Act. (42 U.S.C chapter 7)
UWA: Unsuccessful Work Attempt
This refers to an applicant who is actively seeking Social Security Disability benefits and returns to work while still in the claim or appeals process. Depending on the length of the work attempt, and whether or not one was able to sustain it, the Agency is authorized to consider that work attempt unsuccessful. If the Agency deems the attempt a UWA, ttis would not have any bearing on your past due benefits, waiting period, or entitlement to Medicare.
VE: Vocational Expert
This is the individual who will be part of the Hearing process. He or she will be either in the Hearing room with us, or will testify by telephone. This individual will have experience in job placement, the Directory of Occupational Titles (DOT), etc. After you testify at your ALJ Hearing, he or she will be given a hypothetical from the ALJ. The ALJ will ask the VE based on the restrictions that are posed in the Judge’s hypothetical whether or not that hypothetical worker (you), could return to their Past Relevant Work (PRW).
If the answer is NO, then the Judge asks the VE if there are any other jobs that such a hypothetical worker could perform based on the limitations posed in the hypothetical. If the answer is YES, the VE’s then cite those Dead-end, Minimum Wage, high turnover, go – nowhere jobs that we reference in our preamble.
If the VE says there are no other jobs based on that hypothetical, the Judge will either approve your case, or modify the hypothetical to reduce and/or eliminate some of the limitations. When the Judge does this, the VE’s almost always come back with those aforementioned Dead-end jobs.
VR: Vocational Rehabilitation
This refers to a program within SSA’s Ticket to Work program. If you enroll in Ticket to Work, they will set you up with private agencies that can offer Vocational Rehabilitation where you may be retrained for other work. The goal of the Ticket to Work is naturally to have you return back to work and off the Disability rolls. There are several important advantages and incentives while you’re in the Tick to Work program. If you are able, we highly recommend you take advantage of SSA’s Ticket to Work program.
WC: Worker’s Compensation
This is a State funded program whose weekly premiums are paid by your employer through Payroll. If you suffer a work-related injury, you’re entitled to benefits and medical care for that injury. While The Social Security Law Group does not represent individuals in Worker’s Compensation claims, we do assist individuals who apply for Social Security and are receiving Workers Compensation. You can call us for more details. If your Workers Compensation Attorney is not all that conversant in Social Security Law, have he/she call us and we can work together on your behalf.
WE: Wage Earner (applies to Title II claims)
The Wage Earner is you the Claimant/Beneficiary.
WIB: Widow’s Insurance Benefits / Widower’s Insurance Benefits (applies to Title II claims)
There are two Disability programs for eligible Widows. The first is called a Disabled Widow, and the second is called an Aged Widow.
A Disabled Widow, is an individual who is over age 50, but not yet age 60. If you are over age 50, and have been married for the requisite number of years and your spouse is now deceased, you can collect a monthly Disability benefit under his or her work record. You must first medically qualify for Social Security Disability in order to be paid the benefit under the spouse’s work record.
Once you’re approved for Social Security Disability, the Agency will pay you a portion of your monthly benefit on your work record, and if the monthly benefit on your deceased spouse’s work record is higher, you can receive a stepped-up monthly benefit based on that work record.
An Aged Widow is an individual who is age 60 and has qualified as a Widow based on being married to their deceased spouse for the requisite number years. As an Aged Widow, once you turn age 60, you can begin receive monthly benefits based on your deceased spouse’s work record. If you apply for Social Security Disability at age 60 and are approved, you will get a additional monthly benefit if your work record yields a higher benefit than that of your deceased spouse.
If you’re receiving Short or Long-Term disability from your employer, there are additional integration of these two benefits which can be very confusing. So if you are a Widow and have any questions, you can contact us.
WNPSC: Western Program Service Center – PC5
This is another Regional Payment Center that is responsible for managing and dispersing your SSA Lump Sum (Retroactive benefit), and ongoing monthly payments for individuals who are over age 55 and whose Social Security numbers were issued within the West Coast. The Western PSC is located in Richmond, CA and manages the following SSN’s (First 3 Numbers) 501-504, 516-524, 526-576, 586, 600-647, 650-653, 680, 733-751, 764-765, 827-867
In addition to managing payments, there is a small Disability Adjudication Unit within the Payment Center, and if you file an initial claim and you are over age 55, your SSN is managed by this PSC, and your condition meets some other criteria, it is likely that the DDS function will be handled by the Western PSC.
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