If you are applying for benefits from the Social Security Administration, chances are you are hearing or reading some unfamiliar terms and acronyms that can feel like a whole new language.

Social Security employees are supposed to explain benefits using easy-to-understand, plain language. But if a technical term or acronym that you don’t know slips into the conversation or appears in written material, you can easily find the meaning in Social Security’s online glossary (see link below).

Social Security acronyms function as verbal shorthand in financial planning and claim adjudication conversations. If you’re nearing retirement, you may want to know what PIA (primary insurance amount), FRA (full retirement age), and DRCs (delayed retirement credits) mean. If you’re applying for disability benefits, you may come across acronyms such as SGA (substantial gainful activity, UWA (unsuccessful work attempt), or RFC (residual functional capacity).

Knowing some of these terms can help you fine-tune your conversations about Social Security.  If one of those unknown terms or acronyms does come up in conversation, you can be the one to supply the definition using the online glossary. Sometimes learning the lingo can deepen your understanding of how Social Security works for you.Contact our office today if you or anyone you know would like to learn more about qualifying for Social Security Disability benefits.

Social Security Glossary: https://www.ssa.gov/agency/glossary/