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ABC SOUP: SOCIAL SECURITY ACRONYMS

We all know the government is found of acryonyms:  AOD, DLI, EOD, etc.  To understand Social Security language, you need to know what these terms mean.

AOD:  Alleged Onset Date.  This is the date on which the claimant says he/she first became disabled.  It's probably also the date the claimant asks for disability payments to begin.  It can be earlier than the date of application.

DLI:  Date Last Insured.  Just like all other insurance programs, SSDI has a beginning and ending date.  A worker loses his or her insured status with Social Security abut 5 years after they stop working (because they no longer pay FICA tax by payroll deduction).  This date affects your ability to file a NEW disability claim under Title 2, the regular disability program based on your work record.

EOD:  Established Onset Date.  This is the date a Social Security agrees that you became disabled. It may be later than your AOD.  For example, you may claim to have become disabled on 3/1/16 but Social Security may find that you became disabled on 11/15/17.  This is their "established onset date," and it affects the amount of your back pay, among other things.

Some Other Important Terms

Title II (2) Benefits:  This refers to the regular Social Security disability program based on a claimant's work record.  It is available because the worker paid FICA tax by payroll deduction and has earned the required "quarters of coverage" by working.  Not everyone can apply for Title II because they have not worked enough, or have not worked recently enough to be covered under Title 2.

SSI:  Supplemental Security Income (Title XVI, 16).  This is an entirely different program for elderly or disabled persons.  Title 16 benefits do not require any work.  however, SSI does require very limited household income and financial resources.  For example, an individual must have resources under $2,000 and a couple must have resources under $3,000 to qualify for SSI.  Household income must also be under the maximum limit.  (There is no resource or income restriction for Title 2 or SSDI - above).

The benefit structure for Title 2 and Title 16 (SSI) is also very different.  The federal maximum SSI benefit is $733 per month.  But under a Title 2 (SSDI) claim, the maximum benefit can be over $2,600 per month, depending on the claimant's age and earnings history.

Claimants need to understand that Social Security operates 2 very different benefit programs:  SSDI and SSI.  Failing to understand the differences in these two programs will cause untold confusion.

HELP WITH A SOCIAL SECURITY SSDI CLAIM 



 

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