SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION • NON-ATTORNEY REPRESENTATIVE
EDPNA EXAM AND STUDY GUIDE
Eligible for Direct Payment Non-Attorney A+
2026/2027
Official-Style Examination • SSDI/SSI, Sequential Evaluation, Ethics & Representation • Full Rationales
A+ 5 100%
QUESTIONS VERIFIED EXAM DOMAINS COVERED RATIONALES INCLUDED
CATEGORIES
■ SSDI & SSI Eligibility and Program Rules
■ SSA Regulations, Rulings, POMS & Sequential Evaluation
■ Representation Procedures, Appeals & Hearings
■ Ethical & Professional Conduct, Fees & Direct Payment
■ Evidence Development, Medical-Vocational Analysis & Case Strategy
STUVIAACTUALEXAM
All content original • Aligned to SSA EDPNA examination topics • For educational practice only
, SECTION: SSDI & SSI ELIGIBILITY AND PROGRAM RULES
Q1. A 52-year-old claimant applies for SSDI. To establish insured status for disability benefits, the claimant generally must have earned a sufficient
number of work credits, including recent work. The representative correctly advises that for most adult workers the recent-work test requires:
A. Credits only from self-employment
B. 40 credits in the last 10 years only
C. 20 credits in the 40-quarter period ending with the quarter of disability onset
D. No recent-work requirement if the claimant is over age 50
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: For most workers, the 20/40 test (20 of the last 40 quarters) is the recent-work component of disability insured status under Title II.
Q2. A claimant is working and earning $1,550 per month in 2025. When evaluating whether the work is substantial gainful activity (SGA) for a non-blind
individual, the representative should know that:
A. Part-time work can never be SGA
B. Any earnings above $500 automatically equal SGA
C. SGA is determined by comparing countable earnings to the annually published SGA threshold and applying the three-part test if needed
D. SGA applies only to SSI and never to SSDI
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: SSA publishes annual SGA amounts; countable earnings at or above the threshold generally indicate SGA, subject to the average-earnings and other rules.
Q3. A Title II disability beneficiary completes nine months of trial work. During the subsequent Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE), benefits are due for
months in which earnings fall below SGA. The EPE generally lasts:
A. 12 months only
B. Indefinitely until the beneficiary requests termination
C. Only three months
D. 36 consecutive months beginning the month after the TWP ends
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The EPE is a 36-month period following the TWP during which benefits can be reinstated for non-SGA months without a new application.
Q4. A claimant seeks SSI disability benefits. In addition to meeting the disability standard, the claimant must satisfy non-medical eligibility. The
representative correctly focuses on:
A. Age and education only
B. Income and resource limits, living arrangement, and citizenship/qualified-alien status
C. Only the medical listing of impairments
D. Work credits under Title II
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SSI is a needs-based program; financial eligibility (income/resources) and categorical requirements are essential.
Q5. A disabled adult child (DAC) claim is filed. To qualify, the claimant must generally show disability that began before age 22 and relationship to an
insured parent who is deceased, retired, or disabled. The representative verifies that the claimant is:
A. Over age 65 only
B. Unmarried (with limited exceptions) and meets the relationship and disability-onset requirements
C. Married and working full-time above SGA
D. Receiving only SSI without any Title II connection
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: DAC benefits under Title II require disability before 22, unmarried status (generally), and a qualifying parental relationship.
Q6. A widow(er) age 52 applies for disabled widow(er)’s benefits. The representative checks that disability began within a prescribed period after the
worker’s death or prior entitlement. The prescribed period is generally:
A. Seven years after the worker’s death or after the end of previous entitlement to certain benefits
B. One year only
C. Indefinite
D. Only until age 50
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Disabled widow(er)’s benefits require onset within the seven-year prescribed period (with limited extensions in some cases).
STUVIAACTUALEXAM Page 2 of 17 EDPNA
, Q7. A claimant’s date last insured (DLI) is December 31, 2023. For a Title II claim, disability must be established on or before the DLI. The representative
therefore develops evidence to show:
A. That work credits are irrelevant after age 50
B. Onset any time after the DLI is acceptable for Title II
C. That SSI rules control the Title II claim
D. Onset of disability on or before the DLI so that insured status is met
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Title II disability requires that the claimant be disabled while still insured; onset must be on or before DLI.
Q8. A claimant receives both SSDI and SSI (concurrent benefits). When calculating the SSI payment, the representative understands that:
A. SSDI is ignored completely for SSI purposes
B. SSDI is counted as unearned income and reduces the SSI federal benefit rate after applicable exclusions
C. Only state supplements are affected
D. SSI always pays the full federal benefit rate regardless of SSDI
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Concurrent beneficiaries have SSDI counted as income against the SSI payment, subject to the general income exclusion and other rules.
Q9. A claimant engages in a trial work period. During the TWP, the beneficiary may test work without losing benefits, provided the work is not over the
TWP service-month threshold. A TWP service month is generally triggered when earnings exceed:
A. Any amount of earnings
B. SGA level exclusively
C. Only full-time wages
D. The annually published TWP amount (e.g., $1,110 in recent years)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A month counts as a TWP service month when earnings exceed the yearly TWP threshold; nine such months (not necessarily consecutive) complete the TWP.
Q10. A claimant has a medically determinable impairment that is not severe. Under the sequential evaluation process, the claim is denied at step two. The
representative understands that a non-severe impairment is one that:
A. Requires an RFC assessment before denial
B. Always equals a listing when combined with age
C. Meets a listing automatically
D. Does not significantly limit the ability to perform basic work activities
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Step two screens out impairments that cause only slight abnormalities with minimal effect on basic work activities.
Q11. A claimant is working above SGA but alleges unsuccessful work attempts. An unsuccessful work attempt (UWA) may be disregarded when
determining SGA if the work lasted six months or less and stopped or reduced below SGA because of the impairment. The representative develops
evidence of:
A. Only the highest monthly wage
B. The claimant’s preference for part-time work
C. Why the work ended or was reduced and the duration of the attempt
D. Educational background only
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: UWA rules allow short-lived work attempts that end due to the impairment to be excluded from SGA analysis.
Q12. A claimant applies for SSI and has resources of $2,400 in a bank account and a home that is the principal place of residence. For SSI resource
purposes, the representative correctly treats the home as:
A. Partially countable based on equity
B. Generally excluded as the principal place of residence
C. Countable because it exceeds $2,000
D. Countable only if the claimant is married
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The home that serves as the principal place of residence is an excluded resource for SSI.
STUVIAACTUALEXAM Page 3 of 17 EDPNA
EDPNA EXAM AND STUDY GUIDE
Eligible for Direct Payment Non-Attorney A+
2026/2027
Official-Style Examination • SSDI/SSI, Sequential Evaluation, Ethics & Representation • Full Rationales
A+ 5 100%
QUESTIONS VERIFIED EXAM DOMAINS COVERED RATIONALES INCLUDED
CATEGORIES
■ SSDI & SSI Eligibility and Program Rules
■ SSA Regulations, Rulings, POMS & Sequential Evaluation
■ Representation Procedures, Appeals & Hearings
■ Ethical & Professional Conduct, Fees & Direct Payment
■ Evidence Development, Medical-Vocational Analysis & Case Strategy
STUVIAACTUALEXAM
All content original • Aligned to SSA EDPNA examination topics • For educational practice only
, SECTION: SSDI & SSI ELIGIBILITY AND PROGRAM RULES
Q1. A 52-year-old claimant applies for SSDI. To establish insured status for disability benefits, the claimant generally must have earned a sufficient
number of work credits, including recent work. The representative correctly advises that for most adult workers the recent-work test requires:
A. Credits only from self-employment
B. 40 credits in the last 10 years only
C. 20 credits in the 40-quarter period ending with the quarter of disability onset
D. No recent-work requirement if the claimant is over age 50
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: For most workers, the 20/40 test (20 of the last 40 quarters) is the recent-work component of disability insured status under Title II.
Q2. A claimant is working and earning $1,550 per month in 2025. When evaluating whether the work is substantial gainful activity (SGA) for a non-blind
individual, the representative should know that:
A. Part-time work can never be SGA
B. Any earnings above $500 automatically equal SGA
C. SGA is determined by comparing countable earnings to the annually published SGA threshold and applying the three-part test if needed
D. SGA applies only to SSI and never to SSDI
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: SSA publishes annual SGA amounts; countable earnings at or above the threshold generally indicate SGA, subject to the average-earnings and other rules.
Q3. A Title II disability beneficiary completes nine months of trial work. During the subsequent Extended Period of Eligibility (EPE), benefits are due for
months in which earnings fall below SGA. The EPE generally lasts:
A. 12 months only
B. Indefinitely until the beneficiary requests termination
C. Only three months
D. 36 consecutive months beginning the month after the TWP ends
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The EPE is a 36-month period following the TWP during which benefits can be reinstated for non-SGA months without a new application.
Q4. A claimant seeks SSI disability benefits. In addition to meeting the disability standard, the claimant must satisfy non-medical eligibility. The
representative correctly focuses on:
A. Age and education only
B. Income and resource limits, living arrangement, and citizenship/qualified-alien status
C. Only the medical listing of impairments
D. Work credits under Title II
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SSI is a needs-based program; financial eligibility (income/resources) and categorical requirements are essential.
Q5. A disabled adult child (DAC) claim is filed. To qualify, the claimant must generally show disability that began before age 22 and relationship to an
insured parent who is deceased, retired, or disabled. The representative verifies that the claimant is:
A. Over age 65 only
B. Unmarried (with limited exceptions) and meets the relationship and disability-onset requirements
C. Married and working full-time above SGA
D. Receiving only SSI without any Title II connection
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: DAC benefits under Title II require disability before 22, unmarried status (generally), and a qualifying parental relationship.
Q6. A widow(er) age 52 applies for disabled widow(er)’s benefits. The representative checks that disability began within a prescribed period after the
worker’s death or prior entitlement. The prescribed period is generally:
A. Seven years after the worker’s death or after the end of previous entitlement to certain benefits
B. One year only
C. Indefinite
D. Only until age 50
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Disabled widow(er)’s benefits require onset within the seven-year prescribed period (with limited extensions in some cases).
STUVIAACTUALEXAM Page 2 of 17 EDPNA
, Q7. A claimant’s date last insured (DLI) is December 31, 2023. For a Title II claim, disability must be established on or before the DLI. The representative
therefore develops evidence to show:
A. That work credits are irrelevant after age 50
B. Onset any time after the DLI is acceptable for Title II
C. That SSI rules control the Title II claim
D. Onset of disability on or before the DLI so that insured status is met
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Title II disability requires that the claimant be disabled while still insured; onset must be on or before DLI.
Q8. A claimant receives both SSDI and SSI (concurrent benefits). When calculating the SSI payment, the representative understands that:
A. SSDI is ignored completely for SSI purposes
B. SSDI is counted as unearned income and reduces the SSI federal benefit rate after applicable exclusions
C. Only state supplements are affected
D. SSI always pays the full federal benefit rate regardless of SSDI
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Concurrent beneficiaries have SSDI counted as income against the SSI payment, subject to the general income exclusion and other rules.
Q9. A claimant engages in a trial work period. During the TWP, the beneficiary may test work without losing benefits, provided the work is not over the
TWP service-month threshold. A TWP service month is generally triggered when earnings exceed:
A. Any amount of earnings
B. SGA level exclusively
C. Only full-time wages
D. The annually published TWP amount (e.g., $1,110 in recent years)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A month counts as a TWP service month when earnings exceed the yearly TWP threshold; nine such months (not necessarily consecutive) complete the TWP.
Q10. A claimant has a medically determinable impairment that is not severe. Under the sequential evaluation process, the claim is denied at step two. The
representative understands that a non-severe impairment is one that:
A. Requires an RFC assessment before denial
B. Always equals a listing when combined with age
C. Meets a listing automatically
D. Does not significantly limit the ability to perform basic work activities
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Step two screens out impairments that cause only slight abnormalities with minimal effect on basic work activities.
Q11. A claimant is working above SGA but alleges unsuccessful work attempts. An unsuccessful work attempt (UWA) may be disregarded when
determining SGA if the work lasted six months or less and stopped or reduced below SGA because of the impairment. The representative develops
evidence of:
A. Only the highest monthly wage
B. The claimant’s preference for part-time work
C. Why the work ended or was reduced and the duration of the attempt
D. Educational background only
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: UWA rules allow short-lived work attempts that end due to the impairment to be excluded from SGA analysis.
Q12. A claimant applies for SSI and has resources of $2,400 in a bank account and a home that is the principal place of residence. For SSI resource
purposes, the representative correctly treats the home as:
A. Partially countable based on equity
B. Generally excluded as the principal place of residence
C. Countable because it exceeds $2,000
D. Countable only if the claimant is married
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The home that serves as the principal place of residence is an excluded resource for SSI.
STUVIAACTUALEXAM Page 3 of 17 EDPNA
