Applying for Social Security Disability (SSD) can be confusing. The forms and letters from the Social Security Administration (SSA) use many complicated words and terms. To help you, we have created this Social Security Disability Glossary.
This guide explains key terms related to SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) and SSI (Supplemental Security Income). Whether you are just starting your application, appealing a denial, or trying to understand the system, this glossary will be useful. Knowing these terms can help you make informed choices and communicate clearly with the SSA and your doctors.
Key Social Security Disability Terms (A–Z)
Below, you’ll find commonly used SSA, SSDI, and SSI terms, explained in everyday language. Each definition includes a brief explanation of its importance in your disability claim process.
A
- Activities of Daily Living (ADLs):
- Definition: Basic self-care tasks essential for independent living, such as bathing, dressing, eating, personal hygiene (grooming, using the bathroom), and preparing simple meals.
- Relevance: The SSA extensively evaluates how your medical condition affects your ability to perform these everyday activities. Documenting your struggles with ADLs provides crucial evidence of your functional limitations.
- Administrative Law Judge (ALJ):
- Definition: An impartial judge within the SSA’s Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) who conducts disability hearings.
- Relevance: If your initial application and the first appeal (Reconsideration) are denied, you can request a hearing before an ALJ. The ALJ reviews all the evidence, hears testimony from you and any witnesses (including medical and vocational experts), and makes an independent decision on your case. This is a critical stage where many claims are approved.
- Alleged Onset Date (AOD):
- Definition: The specific date you claim your disability began and prevented you from working.
- Relevance: This date is crucial because it influences when your disability benefits could potentially start and how much back pay you might receive. For SSDI, your AOD must be before your Date Last Insured (DLI).
- Appeals Council:
- Definition: The fourth level of appeal within the SSA’s administrative process. It reviews decisions made by ALJs.
- Relevance: If you are dissatisfied with an ALJ’s decision, you can request that the Appeals Council review it. The Council primarily checks for legal or factual errors in the ALJ’s decision. They can affirm the decision, reverse it and grant benefits, or remand (send back) the case to an ALJ for further review.
- Application Date (Protective Filing Date):
- Definition: The date you first contact the SSA with the intent to file for disability benefits (e.g., submitting an online application, calling, or visiting an SSA office).
- Relevance: This date “protects” your place in line and can significantly affect the amount of back pay you receive if your claim is approved. It’s often beneficial to establish this date as early as possible.
B
- Back Pay (Past-Due Benefits):
- Definition: The total amount of benefits the SSA owes you from your established onset date (EOD) of disability up to the date your claim is approved.
- Relevance: For SSDI, there is a 5-month waiting period before benefits can begin. For SSI, benefits can generally start the month after your application date. Back pay can be a substantial sum, as the application and appeal process can be lengthy.
- Blue Book (Listing of Impairments):
- Definition: The SSA’s official medical guide that lists various impairments and specific medical criteria that, if met, can qualify an applicant for disability benefits without further vocational consideration.
- Relevance: If your medical condition and its severity precisely match a listing in the Blue Book (e.g., Section 11.06 for Parkinson’s Disease, Section 3.02 for Chronic Respiratory Disorders), your claim may be approved more quickly. You must have objective medical evidence to prove you meet the listing.
C
- Compassionate Allowance (CAL):
- Definition: A program developed by the SSA to fast-track certain severe medical conditions that, by their nature, meet the SSA’s disability standards.
- Relevance: If your diagnosis is on the Compassionate Allowance list (e.g., certain aggressive cancers, specific neurological disorders), your claim may be processed and approved much more quickly, sometimes within weeks. [Source: SSA, “Compassionate Allowances Conditions”, www.ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/conditions.htm].
- Consultative Examination (CE):
- Definition: A medical examination arranged and paid for by the SSA with an independent doctor (not your treating physician).
- Relevance: The SSA may schedule a CE if they need more current medical information, objective findings, or clarification regarding your condition or functional limitations, especially if your existing medical records are insufficient or incomplete.
- Continuing Disability Review (CDR):
- Definition: A periodic review conducted by the SSA to determine if your medical condition has improved to the point where you are no longer considered disabled under their rules, or if you are engaging in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA).
- Relevance: CDRs are conducted at different intervals (e.g., 6-18 months for expected medical improvement, 3 years for possible improvement, 5-7 years for no expected improvement). Based on this review, your benefits can be continued or, if you no longer meet the definition of disability, discontinued.
D
- Date Last Insured (DLI):
- Definition: For SSDI claims, this is the last date you were considered “insured” for Social Security benefits based on your work history and payment of Social Security taxes. It’s typically calculated as five years after the last calendar quarter in which you had sufficient work credits.
- Relevance: You must prove that your disability began (or that your condition became severe enough to meet SSA’s definition of disability) on or before your DLI to qualify for SSDI. If your disability began after your DLI, you would generally not be eligible for SSDI, but might still qualify for SSI.
- Disability Determination Services (DDS):
- Definition: A state agency, funded by the federal government but operated by the state, responsible for making the initial medical disability decisions for the SSA.
- Relevance: DDS examiners and medical consultants review your medical evidence and non-medical information to determine if you meet the SSA’s definition of disability at the initial application and Reconsideration stages.
E
- Established Onset Date (EOD):
- Definition: The date the SSA officially determines your disability began. This may or may not be the same as your Alleged Onset Date (AOD).
- Relevance: The EOD is crucial because it directly impacts the calculation of your back pay and the start date of your monthly benefits.
- Earnings Record:
- Definition: Your complete history of wages and self-employment income reported to the SSA throughout your working life.
- Relevance: Your earnings record is used to determine your eligibility for SSDI (based on work credits) and to calculate the amount of your monthly SSDI benefit. You can view your personal earnings record by creating an account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
F
- Federal Court Review:
- Definition: The final stage of the Social Security Disability appeal process, where you can file a lawsuit in a U.S. District Court after exhausting all administrative appeals (Initial Application, Reconsideration, ALJ Hearing, Appeals Council).
- Relevance: This is a legal proceeding where a federal judge reviews the administrative record to determine if the SSA’s decision was supported by substantial evidence and if any legal errors were made.
- Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE):
- Definition: A comprehensive assessment, often performed by an occupational or physical therapist, that objectively measures an individual’s physical and/or cognitive abilities to perform work-related tasks (e.g., lifting, carrying, bending, sitting, standing, walking, problem-solving, memory).
- Relevance: While not always required by the SSA, a detailed FCE report from your treating professional can provide compelling objective evidence of your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) and specific limitations, especially for claims involving musculoskeletal or neurological conditions that don’t precisely meet a Blue Book listing.
I
- Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE):
- Definition: Certain out-of-pocket expenses that an individual with a disability pays for items or services that are necessary for them to work (e.g., specialized transportation, adaptive equipment, prescription co-pays for treatment directly related to your disabling condition).
- Relevance: For both SSDI and SSI, IRWEs can be deducted from your gross earnings when the SSA calculates your Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), potentially allowing you to work and earn more without being disqualified from benefits. For SSI, IRWEs can also reduce countable income.
L
- Listing (Medical Listing):
- Definition: Refers to one of the medical conditions and their specific criteria found in the SSA’s Blue Book (Listing of Impairments).
- Relevance: If your medical evidence clearly demonstrates that your condition meets or “equals” a medical listing, the SSA may determine you are disabled without needing to assess your ability to perform past work or any other work.
M
- Medical Evidence:
- Definition: All documents and records from your healthcare providers that describe your medical condition, symptoms, diagnoses, treatment history, medications, test results, and the impact of your illness on your daily functioning. This includes notes from doctors, specialists, hospitals, clinics, and therapists.
- Relevance: This is the cornerstone of your disability claim. The SSA’s decision is based primarily on objective medical evidence. Comprehensive, consistent, and current medical records that document your functional limitations are essential for proving your disability.
- Medicare:
- Definition: A federal health insurance program primarily for people aged 65 or older, some younger people with disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
- Relevance: Individuals approved for SSDI benefits automatically become eligible for Medicare coverage after a 24-month waiting period. This waiting period begins after your Established Onset Date (EOD), not from your application date or approval date.
- Medicaid:
- Definition: A joint federal and state program that provides health coverage to low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities.
- Relevance: Eligibility for SSI benefits often automatically qualifies you for Medicaid in most states, generally without a waiting period. This is a critical benefit for individuals with limited income and resources who need help covering medical expenses.
N
- Non-Medical Requirements:
- Definition: The technical or administrative criteria you must meet to be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits, distinct from the medical definition of disability. These include requirements related to your work history (for SSDI) or your income and resources (for SSI).
- Relevance: Even if your medical condition is severe, you must first satisfy these non-medical requirements before the SSA will proceed to evaluate your medical condition.
P
- Past Relevant Work (PRW):
- Definition: Any work you have performed in the 15 years prior to your disability onset date that was performed at the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level and lasted long enough for you to learn how to do it.
- Relevance: During the Sequential Evaluation Process, if your condition doesn’t meet a Blue Book listing, the SSA will assess whether your current limitations prevent you from performing any of your PRW.
- Program Operations Manual System (POMS):
- Definition: The comprehensive, internal policy manual used by SSA employees to evaluate and process Social Security claims.
- Relevance: While a technical document, the public version of POMS is accessible online (www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/poms/) and provides detailed insight into how the SSA interprets its own regulations and procedures. It can be a valuable resource for applicants and their representatives.
R
- Reconsideration:
- Definition: The first level of appeal after an initial Social Security Disability claim denial. Your case is reviewed by a different disability examiner and medical consultant at the state Disability Determination Services (DDS), often with any new evidence you submit.
- Relevance: While approval rates at this stage are typically low (often 10-16%), it’s a mandatory step before you can request an ALJ Hearing in most states. [Source: Atticus.com, “Social Security Disability Hearing Wait Times in 2025”, as of Dec 2024].
- Residual Functional Capacity (RFC):
- Definition: A medical assessment of what an individual can still do in a work setting despite their physical and/or mental limitations caused by their medical condition(s). It evaluates capabilities such as sitting, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, understanding instructions, remembering, and interacting with others.
- Relevance: The RFC is central to disability claims that do not meet a specific Blue Book listing. The SSA uses your RFC to determine if you can perform your Past Relevant Work (PRW) or any other type of work that exists in the national economy. A detailed RFC form completed by your treating doctor is highly persuasive.
S
- Sequential Evaluation Process (5-Step Process):
- Definition: The standardized five-step process the SSA uses to determine if an applicant meets the legal definition of disability.
- Relevance: Every Social Security Disability claim goes through these five steps: (1) Are you working above SGA? (2) Is your condition severe? (3) Does your condition meet or equal a Blue Book listing? (4) Can you do Past Relevant Work (PRW)? (5) Can you do any other work?
- Social Security Administration (SSA):
- Definition: The independent agency of the U.S. federal government that administers the Social Security programs, including retirement, survivors, and disability benefits.
- Relevance: The SSA is the primary entity you will interact with throughout your application, review, and appeal processes.
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI):
- Definition: A federal insurance program that provides benefits to individuals who have worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes (FICA or SECA) to earn sufficient work credits, and who have a medical condition that meets the SSA’s definition of disability.
- Relevance: SSDI benefits are based on your past earnings record and are typically higher than SSI benefits. Recipients may also qualify for Medicare after a waiting period.
- Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA):
- Definition: A monthly income threshold set by the SSA that determines whether your work activity is considered “substantial.” If your average monthly earnings are above this amount, the SSA generally considers you able to engage in work that disqualifies you from disability benefits.
- Relevance: For 2025, the SGA amount is $1,620 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,700 per month for blind individuals. If you are working and earning above this level at the time of your application, you will typically be denied at Step 1 of the Sequential Evaluation Process. [Source: SSA, “What’s New in 2025? | The Red Book”, www.ssa.gov/redbook/newfor2025.htm].
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI):
- Definition: A federal needs-based program that provides financial assistance to aged, blind, and disabled individuals who have very limited income and resources, regardless of their work history.
- Relevance: SSI does not require work credits but has strict financial limits on income and assets. Recipients often qualify for Medicaid coverage. For 2025, the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR) for SSI is $967 per month for an eligible individual and $1,450 per month for an eligible couple. [Source: SSA, “What’s New in 2025? | The Red Book”, www.ssa.gov/redbook/newfor2025.htm].
T
- Third-Party Statements (Buddy Letters):
- Definition: Written statements from individuals who know you well (e.g., family members, friends, former coworkers, caregivers, employers) describing how your disability affects your daily life, work, and functioning.
- Relevance: While not as impactful as objective medical evidence, these statements can provide valuable supporting context and real-world examples of your limitations, helping the SSA understand the full impact of your condition.
- Trial Work Period (TWP):
- Definition: A program for SSDI beneficiaries that allows them to test their ability to work for up to nine months without losing their full disability benefits, regardless of how much they earn.
- Relevance: The TWP helps individuals attempt to return to work while still receiving benefits as a safety net. For 2025, a month counts as a TWP month if your gross earnings exceed $1,160. [Source: SSA, “What’s New in 2025? | The Red Book”, www.ssa.gov/redbook/newfor2025.htm].
V
- VA Benefits (Veterans Affairs):
- Definition: Financial and medical benefits provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for service-connected disabilities or other veteran-specific programs.
- Relevance: VA disability benefits are separate from Social Security Disability benefits, and a VA disability rating does not guarantee SSA approval. However, VA medical records can be used as evidence in an SSA claim. VA benefits can impact eligibility for SSI due to income limits, but generally do not affect SSDI.
- Vocational Expert (VE):
- Definition: An expert in the job market, typically called to testify at an ALJ Hearing, who assesses your past work, identifies jobs existing in the national economy, and offers an opinion on whether an individual with your specific Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) could perform certain types of work.
- Relevance: The VE’s testimony can significantly influence an ALJ’s decision. Your attorney will often cross-examine the VE to highlight how your specific limitations prevent you from performing jobs the VE identifies.
W
- Work Credits (Social Security Credits):
- Definition: Credits earned through employment by paying Social Security taxes (FICA or SECA) on your earnings. You can earn up to four credits per year.
- Relevance: The number of work credits you have determines your eligibility for SSDI benefits. The number of credits needed depends on your age when your disability began, but typically, you need 20 credits in the 10 years immediately before your disability onset for individuals aged 31 or older. For 2025, you earn one Social Security credit for every $1,810 in earnings, up to the maximum of 4 credits per year ($7,240 total earnings for 4 credits). [Source: SSA, “How You Earn Credits 2025”, Publication No. 05-10072, www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10072.pdf].