EDPNA Exam Study Guide: 200 Social
Security Disability Representative Q&As
QUESTION 1
The EDPNA (Eligible for Direct Payment Non-Attorney) program allows what?
A. Attorneys to represent Social Security claimants and receive direct payment
B. Qualified non-attorneys to represent Social Security claimants and receive direct
payment of fees from the SSA
C. Any individual to represent Social Security claimants
D. Only medical professionals to represent Social Security claimants
Answer: B. Qualified non-attorneys to represent Social Security claimants and
receive direct payment of fees from the SSA
Rationale: The EDPNA program allows qualified non-attorneys to represent Social
Security claimants and receive direct payment of fees from the SSA. This is a specialized
program that requires passing the EDPNA exam .
QUESTION 2
What are the two main Social Security disability programs?
A. SSI and Medicare
B. SSDI (Title II) and SSI (Title XVI)
C. Medicaid and Medicare
D. SSDI and Workers' Compensation
Answer: B. SSDI (Title II) and SSI (Title XVI)
Rationale: The two main Social Security disability programs are Social Security
Disability Insurance (SSDI) under Title II and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) under
Title XVI. SSDI is based on work history, while SSI is a needs-based program .
QUESTION 3
To be disability insured for Title II (SSDI), an individual must have:
,A. Worked 5 out of the last 10 years and paid into the system
B. Worked 10 out of the last 15 years
C. Worked 3 out of the last 5 years
D. Any work history regardless of duration
Answer: A. Worked 5 out of the last 10 years and paid into the system
Rationale: The primary citation for Title II (SSDI) is that the claimant must have worked
5 out of the last 10 years and paid into the Social Security system .
QUESTION 4
What is the Title XVI (SSI) date of entitlement?
A. The date of application
B. The date of disability onset
C. The first day of the month following the date the application is filed
D. The date of the ALJ hearing
Answer: C. The first day of the month following the date the application is filed
Rationale: Title XVI (SSI) entitlement begins on the first day of the month following the
application filing date. This is different from SSDI which has different payment
calculations .
QUESTION 5
What does "SGA" stand for in Social Security disability determinations?
A. Substantial Gainful Activity
B. Social Gainful Activity
C. Standard Gainful Assessment
D. Substantial Government Assistance
Answer: A. Substantial Gainful Activity
Rationale: SGA stands for Substantial Gainful Activity. It is a threshold used to
determine if a claimant is engaged in work activity that is substantial and gainful,
which can disqualify them from disability benefits .
,QUESTION 6
What is the SGA earnings limit for non-blind individuals?
A. The amount is adjusted annually based on the national average wage index
B. A fixed amount of $1,000 per month
C. A fixed amount of $2,000 per month
D. The amount varies by state
Answer: A. The amount is adjusted annually based on the national average
wage index
Rationale: The SGA limit is adjusted annually by the SSA based on changes in the
national average wage index. For blind individuals, the threshold is higher .
QUESTION 7
What are the five steps of the Sequential Evaluation Process?
A. Eligibility, Application, Review, Appeal, Award
B. SGA, Severity, Listings, RFC, Past Work/Other Work Adjustment
C. Application, Initial, Reconsideration, ALJ, Appeals Council
D. Medical, Vocational, Legal, Financial, Administrative
Answer: B. SGA, Severity, Listings, RFC, Past Work/Other Work Adjustment
Rationale: The five steps of the Sequential Evaluation Process are: (1) Is the claimant
engaged in SGA? (2) Is the impairment severe? (3) Does the impairment meet or equal
a listing? (4) Can the claimant perform past relevant work? (5) Can the claimant adjust
to other work? .
QUESTION 8
At the fourth step of the sequential evaluation process, if a claimant has the Residual
Functional Capacity (RFC) to perform their Past Relevant Work (PRW), then:
A. The claimant is found disabled
B. A finding of not disabled is made and the analysis stops there
C. The case proceeds to step five
D. The claimant is sent for a consultative examination
Answer: B. A finding of not disabled is made and the analysis stops there
, Rationale: At step four of the sequential evaluation process, if the claimant has the RFC
to perform their Past Relevant Work, then a finding of not disabled is made and the
analysis stops there. No further steps are taken .
QUESTION 9
What is "Residual Functional Capacity" (RFC)?
A. The maximum amount of money a claimant can earn
B. What a claimant can do in spite of any physical or mental limitation
C. The claimant's education level
D. The claimant's work history
Answer: B. What a claimant can do in spite of any physical or mental limitation
Rationale: RFC is defined as what a claimant can do in spite of any physical or mental
limitation. It is a key concept in SSA disability determinations .
QUESTION 10
Who determines the RFC at the initial and reconsideration levels?
A. The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ)
B. The State Agency
C. The claimant's treating physician
D. The SSA Office of Disability Adjudication and Review
Answer: B. The State Agency
Rationale: At the initial and reconsideration levels, the State Agency (Disability
Determination Services - DDS) determines the claimant's RFC. At the hearing level, the
ALJ determines the RFC .
QUESTION 11
What are the primary components of a Physical RFC assessment?
A. Understanding, remembering, and carrying out instructions
B. Sitting, standing, walking, lifting, pushing, and pulling
Security Disability Representative Q&As
QUESTION 1
The EDPNA (Eligible for Direct Payment Non-Attorney) program allows what?
A. Attorneys to represent Social Security claimants and receive direct payment
B. Qualified non-attorneys to represent Social Security claimants and receive direct
payment of fees from the SSA
C. Any individual to represent Social Security claimants
D. Only medical professionals to represent Social Security claimants
Answer: B. Qualified non-attorneys to represent Social Security claimants and
receive direct payment of fees from the SSA
Rationale: The EDPNA program allows qualified non-attorneys to represent Social
Security claimants and receive direct payment of fees from the SSA. This is a specialized
program that requires passing the EDPNA exam .
QUESTION 2
What are the two main Social Security disability programs?
A. SSI and Medicare
B. SSDI (Title II) and SSI (Title XVI)
C. Medicaid and Medicare
D. SSDI and Workers' Compensation
Answer: B. SSDI (Title II) and SSI (Title XVI)
Rationale: The two main Social Security disability programs are Social Security
Disability Insurance (SSDI) under Title II and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) under
Title XVI. SSDI is based on work history, while SSI is a needs-based program .
QUESTION 3
To be disability insured for Title II (SSDI), an individual must have:
,A. Worked 5 out of the last 10 years and paid into the system
B. Worked 10 out of the last 15 years
C. Worked 3 out of the last 5 years
D. Any work history regardless of duration
Answer: A. Worked 5 out of the last 10 years and paid into the system
Rationale: The primary citation for Title II (SSDI) is that the claimant must have worked
5 out of the last 10 years and paid into the Social Security system .
QUESTION 4
What is the Title XVI (SSI) date of entitlement?
A. The date of application
B. The date of disability onset
C. The first day of the month following the date the application is filed
D. The date of the ALJ hearing
Answer: C. The first day of the month following the date the application is filed
Rationale: Title XVI (SSI) entitlement begins on the first day of the month following the
application filing date. This is different from SSDI which has different payment
calculations .
QUESTION 5
What does "SGA" stand for in Social Security disability determinations?
A. Substantial Gainful Activity
B. Social Gainful Activity
C. Standard Gainful Assessment
D. Substantial Government Assistance
Answer: A. Substantial Gainful Activity
Rationale: SGA stands for Substantial Gainful Activity. It is a threshold used to
determine if a claimant is engaged in work activity that is substantial and gainful,
which can disqualify them from disability benefits .
,QUESTION 6
What is the SGA earnings limit for non-blind individuals?
A. The amount is adjusted annually based on the national average wage index
B. A fixed amount of $1,000 per month
C. A fixed amount of $2,000 per month
D. The amount varies by state
Answer: A. The amount is adjusted annually based on the national average
wage index
Rationale: The SGA limit is adjusted annually by the SSA based on changes in the
national average wage index. For blind individuals, the threshold is higher .
QUESTION 7
What are the five steps of the Sequential Evaluation Process?
A. Eligibility, Application, Review, Appeal, Award
B. SGA, Severity, Listings, RFC, Past Work/Other Work Adjustment
C. Application, Initial, Reconsideration, ALJ, Appeals Council
D. Medical, Vocational, Legal, Financial, Administrative
Answer: B. SGA, Severity, Listings, RFC, Past Work/Other Work Adjustment
Rationale: The five steps of the Sequential Evaluation Process are: (1) Is the claimant
engaged in SGA? (2) Is the impairment severe? (3) Does the impairment meet or equal
a listing? (4) Can the claimant perform past relevant work? (5) Can the claimant adjust
to other work? .
QUESTION 8
At the fourth step of the sequential evaluation process, if a claimant has the Residual
Functional Capacity (RFC) to perform their Past Relevant Work (PRW), then:
A. The claimant is found disabled
B. A finding of not disabled is made and the analysis stops there
C. The case proceeds to step five
D. The claimant is sent for a consultative examination
Answer: B. A finding of not disabled is made and the analysis stops there
, Rationale: At step four of the sequential evaluation process, if the claimant has the RFC
to perform their Past Relevant Work, then a finding of not disabled is made and the
analysis stops there. No further steps are taken .
QUESTION 9
What is "Residual Functional Capacity" (RFC)?
A. The maximum amount of money a claimant can earn
B. What a claimant can do in spite of any physical or mental limitation
C. The claimant's education level
D. The claimant's work history
Answer: B. What a claimant can do in spite of any physical or mental limitation
Rationale: RFC is defined as what a claimant can do in spite of any physical or mental
limitation. It is a key concept in SSA disability determinations .
QUESTION 10
Who determines the RFC at the initial and reconsideration levels?
A. The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ)
B. The State Agency
C. The claimant's treating physician
D. The SSA Office of Disability Adjudication and Review
Answer: B. The State Agency
Rationale: At the initial and reconsideration levels, the State Agency (Disability
Determination Services - DDS) determines the claimant's RFC. At the hearing level, the
ALJ determines the RFC .
QUESTION 11
What are the primary components of a Physical RFC assessment?
A. Understanding, remembering, and carrying out instructions
B. Sitting, standing, walking, lifting, pushing, and pulling
