You just had your Social Security disability hearing before a federal Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). As you check the status of your case while waiting on a decision you will encounter these terms: Post Hearing Review: The ALJ is still reviewing your case before making a decision. He/She is reviewing the testimony given at your hearing and/or reviewing the medical evidence to see whether you meet the rules for a disability benefit. No decision has been reached. AOD - Alleged Onset Date: This is the date on which you allege your qualifying disability began. This is also the date at which you want your disability benefits to begin. The ALJ may accept this date if supported by the evidence OR he/she may assign a new date that he/she feels is more in line with the medical evidence. EOD - Established Onset Date: This is the official date of your disability onset as established by the judge (ALJ). It may be the same as you...
There's not one Social Security trust fund, there are two: the disability trust fund and the retirement trust fund. The 2025 Trustees' report projected that the Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund can pay 100% of benefits through 2098 with no reductions or changes. This fund can pay benefits to an individual who become disabled (as defined by Social Security rules) prior to full retirement age. However, the retirement (pension) trust fund will have to reduce benefits in 2034 if changes are not made. This is the part of Social Security that pays a retirement benefit starting between the ages of 62 and 67. Both Social Security trust funds are self financing. Workers pay 7.65 percent of their wages in FICA* tax, up to a maximum of $176,000 wages per year. Their employers pay a matching 7.65 percent of wages into the trust funds. Thus for every $100 paid in wages, $15.30 is paid to the trust fund as FICA contributions. (Self employed individuals pay the full 15.3 p...