Plain-English glossary

Every weird SSA term, translated. Hover or tap any term elsewhere in Bluebook for inline tooltips.

• ALJ

  Administrative Law Judge — the judge at your hearing if you appeal a denial.

  Formal: Federal judge who hears Social Security disability appeals.

• AOD

  Alleged Onset Date — the day you say you became unable to work.

  Formal: The earliest date you allege your disability began.

• BME

  Borderline Medical Equivalence — when your case is close enough to a Listing that SSA can approve as 'medically equivalent.'

  Formal: Findings that are at least equal in severity and duration to a listed impairment under 20 CFR 404.1526.

• CE

  Consultative Examination — an exam SSA pays for when your records aren't enough. Often brief and unhelpful; bring a friend.

  Formal: Exam by an SSA-contracted physician under 20 CFR 404.1517–404.1519t.

• Closed Period

  A past stretch (12+ months) when you were disabled but recovered. You can still get back benefits.

  Formal: A definite period of disability that ended before adjudication.

• Continuing Disability Review (CDR)

  SSA re-checks your case every 3-7 years to make sure you're still disabled.

  Formal: Periodic review under 20 CFR 404.1589.

• DDS

  Disability Determination Services — the state agency that actually decides your claim, not the federal SSA office.

  Formal: State agency under contract with SSA that reviews medical evidence.

• DLI

  Date Last Insured — the deadline for SSDI eligibility based on your work history.

  Formal: Generally 5 years after you stop working enough quarters.

• DOT

  Dictionary of Occupational Titles — the (very old) book SSA uses to describe job demands. The vocational expert at hearing will quote DOT codes at you.

  Formal: U.S. DoL 1991 4th ed. classification used by SSA at Steps 4 and 5.

• EOD

  Established Onset Date — the date SSA sets as the official start of your disability (may differ from your AOD).

  Formal: Onset date adopted by the adjudicator after reviewing evidence.

• EPE

  Extended Period of Eligibility — 36 months after Trial Work Period ends. SSDI restarts automatically in any month you drop below SGA.

  Formal: Re-entitlement window under 20 CFR 404.1592a.

• GRID Rules

  A grid table SSA uses for older workers (50+). Age + education + skills can mean approval even if you could do some work.

  Formal: Medical-Vocational Guidelines (20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 2).

• Hearing

  The second appeal stage, in front of an ALJ. Approval rates are about 50%.

  Formal: De novo review by an Administrative Law Judge.

• IRWE

  Impairment-Related Work Expenses — out-of-pocket costs you need to work (special equipment, attendant care, transit assist, copays for needed meds). They reduce your countable earnings for SGA.

  Formal: Deductible work expenses under 20 CFR 404.1576.

• Listing

  A specific medical condition in the SSA Blue Book. If your case 'meets' or 'equals' a Listing, you're approved.

  Formal: A specific impairment in the Listing of Impairments at 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1.

• Non-exertional

  Limits that aren't about lifting/walking/standing — like concentration, pain, getting along with people, environmental triggers.

  Formal: Limitations of physical or mental functions other than exertional.

• Occupational base erosion

  When the VE concedes your limitations remove most jobs from the available pool — strong path to a fully favorable decision.

  Formal: Significant reduction of the unskilled occupational base under SSR 96-9p.

• Onset

  The date your disability started being severe enough to prevent work.

  Formal: The date the impairment(s) first met SSA's definition of disability.

• PASS

  Plan to Achieve Self-Support — for SSI recipients, lets you set aside income/resources for a work goal without losing SSI.

  Formal: Plan under 20 CFR 416.1180.

• PRW

  Past Relevant Work — jobs you held in the last 15 years for long enough to learn them. SSA asks if you can still do them.

  Formal: Jobs lasting long enough to learn, performed at SGA, in the last 15 years.

• RFC

  Residual Functional Capacity — what SSA decides you can still do despite your impairments.

  Formal: The most you can do in a work setting on a sustained basis.

• Reconsideration

  The first appeal stage. Almost always denied (~85%). Do it anyway — you need this step to get to the hearing.

  Formal: First level of administrative appeal under 20 CFR 404.907.

• SGA

  Substantial Gainful Activity — the monthly income threshold (see /eligibility for the current year). Earning over this almost always means an automatic denial.

  Formal: Work activity above the SGA dollar amount published by SSA.

• SVP

  Specific Vocational Preparation — DOT code for how long it takes to learn a job. SVP 1-2 = unskilled, 3-4 = semi-skilled, 5+ = skilled.

  Formal: Time required to learn the techniques, acquire the information, and develop the facility for average performance per DOT App. C.

• Substantial Evidence

  The legal standard a federal judge uses when reviewing an SSA denial — 'such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept.' Lower bar than 'preponderance.'

  Formal: Standard articulated in Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389 (1971).

• TWP

  Same as Trial Work Period — 9-month grace period after benefits start.

  Formal: 20 CFR 404.1592.

• Title II

  SSDI — Social Security Disability Insurance. Requires work credits.

  Formal: Insurance benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act.

• Title XVI

  SSI — Supplemental Security Income. Needs-based; income/resource limits apply.

  Formal: Welfare benefits under Title XVI of the Social Security Act.

• Treating physician rule

  Used to mean SSA had to give your own doctor's opinion controlling weight. Eliminated for claims filed on/after March 27, 2017 — now all medical opinions are weighed equally for 'persuasiveness.'

  Formal: Former 20 CFR 404.1527; replaced by 20 CFR 404.1520c.

• Trial Work Period

  A 9-month window (in any rolling 60-month span) where you can try to work without losing SSDI.

  Formal: Trial Work Period under 20 CFR 404.1592.