SOCIAL SECURITY TERMS AND WHAT THEY MEAN

COMMON SOCIAL SECURITY TERMS AND WHAT THEY MEAN  

 

When you file or consider a Social Security disability application there are dozens of unfamiliar terms that you will encounter.  Most of these terms have an three-letter initials to shorten the term.  For example:  DLI for "Date Last Insured."

Here are some common Social Security terms and their meaning:

Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA):  Work that pays over a certain dollar amount per month.  If your earnings are at or above SGA, you cannot get SSDI benefits because you are gainfully employed.  SGA for 2023 is $1,470 per month for non-blind claimants, and $2,460 for blind claimants.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Past Relevant Work (PRW):  Any work that the applicant has done within the past 15 years, was performed at SGA level, and lasted long enough for the claimant to learn how to perform the work.

---

Alleged Onset Date (AOD):  The date an applicant claims their disability began.  This date can be before the application was filed and it determines how much backpay an applicant may receive.  It is important to prove the onset date.

---

Date Last Insured (DLI):  The DLI is the last date a person is eligible to qualify for Social Security disability benefits.  The DLI depends on when a claimant last worked.  SSDI is purchased by payroll tax deductions.  When a person stops working, the countdown to his/her DLI begins.  The DLI is usually not for a few years after stopping work.

---

Residual Functional Capacity (RFC):  The RFC describes the most a claimant can do in terms of work related activity. An RFC must explain the claimant's maximum capability in terms of physical (exertion) and mental capabilities. Social Security experts use the following physical exertion levels in describing the maximum an individual can do in terms of physical work:

1.    Sedentary work involves lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and occasional lifting or carrying objects such as files and small tools. Sedentary jobs involve sitting, but some walking and standing is typically necessary to carry out job duties.
2.    Light work involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying objects weighing up to 10 pounds. A job in this category requires walking or standing, or sitting most of the time with some pushing and pulling of arm or leg controls. If an individual can do light work, the SSA determines that they can also perform sedentary work.
3.    Medium work involves lifting no more than 50 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying objects weighing up to 25 pounds. If an individual can do medium work, the SSA determines that they can also perform sedentary and light work.
4.    Heavy work involves lifting no more than 100 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying objects weighing up to 50 pounds. If an individual can do heavy work, the SSA determines that he or she can also do medium, light, and sedentary work.
5.    Very heavy work involves lifting objects weighing more than 100 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying objects weighing 50 pounds or more. If an individual can do very heavy work, the SSA determines that they can also do heavy, medium, light and sedentary work. 

Social Security will also use the following terms to describe how long or how often each activity can be sustained:

1.    Occasional work occurs very little up to 33% of the time and would generally total no more than about 2 hours of an 8-hour workday;
2.    Frequent work occurs 34-66% of the day; and
3.    Constant work occurs over 66% of the day. 

Most Social Security cases will hinge on whether the claimant can perform either Sedentary or Light work 8 hours per day, 5 days per week, or an equivalent schedule.

 _____________________________________________________________________________

 Disability Determination Service (DDS):  a state agency that Social Security uses to investigate, process and make the initial decision on disability claims.  In Alabama, the DDS is located in Birmingham; in Tennessee it's in Nashville.  A team of specialists at DDS evaluates claims to decide if each applicant is "disabled" according to Social Security rules.  It is a state agency with state employees but uses Social Security's rules and regulations. The DDS denies around 70 percent of applications, and an appeal is required to proceed.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Vocational Expert (VE):  A vocational expert is an expert witness who is knowledgeable about the current job market and the skills needed to perform specific jobs. The SSA often calls on vocational experts to give their opinion on what jobs they believe an applicant can perform with their limitations. The vocational expert’s role is an important one since their testimony may determine the outcome of a disability hearing. A VE will be called by Social Security for every adult disability hearing.

---

The Forsythe Firm in Huntsville has decades of experience in the successful representation of Social Security disability claimants.  It's all we do.  Call us for a free consultation.  There is no fee unless you win.  (256) 797-0297.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~