COMMON ABBREVIATED TERMS USED BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION:  The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses many abbreviations and acronyms when SSA processes a disability or SSI claim for benefits.

 

AC                  Appeals Council

AG                  Attorney General

ACE                Average Currant Earnings

ALJ                 Administrative Law Judge

AOD                Alleged Onset Date

ATTY              Attorney

 

CE                   Consultative Exam

CDB                Child Disability Benefit

 

DAA               Drug addiction and/or Alcoholism

DDS                Disability Determination Service

DHHS             Department of Health and Human Services

DHS                Department of Human Service

DI                    Disability Insurance

DIB                 Disability Insurance Benefit

DO                  District Office

DOE                Date of Entitlement

DOT                Dictionary of Occupational Titles

 

EPE                 Eligible Period of Entitlement

ER                   Earnings Record

 

FCE                 Functional Capacity Exam

 

GAF                Global Assessment Function

 

HM                  Hearing Monitor

HO                  Hearing Office

 

IME                 Independent Medical Exam

 

LDI                  Last Date Insured

LDW                Last Day Worked

LO                   Local Office

 

MDI                Medically Determinable Impairment

ME                  Medical Expert

MRFC             Mental Residual Functional Capacity

 

 

 

NOA               Notice of Award

NOH               Notice of Hearing

 

ODAR                        Office of Disability Adjudication and Review

 

PIA                 Primary Insurance Amount

PRW                Past Relevant Work

 

RC ALJ            Regional Chief Administrative Law Judge

RFC                 Residual Functional Capacity

RSDI                Retirement Survivors and Disability Insurance

 

SDM               Single Decision Maker

SGA                Substantial Gainful Activity

SSA                 Social Security Administration

SSDI               Social Security Disability Insurance

SSN                 Social Security Number

 

TTW                Ticket To Work

TWP                Trial Work Period

 

UWA             Unsuccessful Work Attempt

 

VE                   Vocational Expert

VR                  Vocational Rehabilitation

VTC                Video Teleconference

 

WE                  Wage Earner

 

 

Once the applicant files the initial application and other required documents for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) with the Social Security Administration, (SSA), SSA will refer to the application as a “Claim” and the applicant as the “Claimant”.  SSA will schedule a telephone conference with the Claimant to review the information provided in the Claim.  If an attorney/representative is assisting the Claimant at the initial application stage, the conference between the Claimant and SSA usually occurs without the attorney/representative.

 

After the Claimant’s telephone conference with SSA, SSA will request the Claimant’s medical records.  SSA will send the Claimant’s file and medical records to the Disability Determining Service (DDS).  DDS will conduct a medical review of the Claim and determine eligibility.

 

We provide this information as a public service. The information provided in this material is of a general nature.  All claims for social security disability benefits have unique facts.  For specific questions about your claim, you should consult with the Social Security Administration or your representative.

WEST MICHIGAN DISABILITY LAW CENTER

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