EDPNA ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE 2026
▶ Resources 416 Subpart L (SSI only) Answer: resources means cash or
other liquid assets or any real or personal property that an individual (or
spouse, if any) owns and could convert to cash to be used for his or her
support and maintenance.
Limit:
$2,000 individual person
$3,000 Couple
▶ Res Judicata 404.957 416.1457 Answer: "Matter already Judged." A
claim cannot be retried between the same parties if it has already been
legally resolved.
▶ Collateral Estoppel 404.950 416.1450 Answer: "Issue Already Decided"
An issue at your hearing may be a fact that has already been decided in
one of our previous determinations or decisions in a claim involving the
same parties, but arising under a different title of the Act or under the
Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act. If this happens, the
administrative law judge will not consider the issue again, but will accept
the factual finding made in the previous determination or decision unless
there are reasons to believe that it was wrong.
- This is on both a denial or allowance
▶ Common Law Marriage 404.726 Answer: This is recognized by SSA if
State claimant lives in recognizes it.
BUT, it needs preferred evidence.
- example - signed statement from spouses and usually two blood relatives.
▶ Self Employment 404.1575 416.975 Answer: Have to complete "the
Three Tests"
, 1. You have engaged in substantial gainful activity if you render services
that are significant to the operation of the business and receive a
substantial income from the business. (over 45 hours a month)
2. You have engaged in substantial gainful activity if your work activity, in
terms of factors such as hours, skills, energy output, efficiency, duties, and
responsibilities, is comparable to that of unimpaired individuals in your
community who are in the same or similar businesses as their means of
livelihood.
3. You have engaged in substantial gainful activity if your work activity,
although not comparable to that of unimpaired individuals, is clearly worth
the amount shown in § 404.1574(b)(2) when considered in terms of its
value to the business, or when compared to the salary that an owner would
pay to an employee to do the work you are doing.
▶ Unsuccessful Work Attempt (UWA) 404.1592c Answer: Work lasting up
to 6 months that the claimant is forced to stop or reduce below the SGA
level because of the claimant's disability. Such work is disregarded when
evaluating the claimant's disability under the sequential evaluation process.
▶ Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) Answer: -- In determining
SGA, the cost of certain impairment-related items and services that are
related to work are deducted from the individual's earnings
-- To qualify, the item or service must be necessary for the person to work,
be related to the disability, be paid for by the person, and be paid by the
person in a month during which they worked.
**if a person is close to income/asset limit, this can help qualify them.
▶ Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS) Answer: offered by the Social
Security Administration to help people save money for education, training,
&/or any other activity that will help them further their career goals.
It is an SSI provision to help individuals with disabilities return to work.
▶ Good Cause for Reopening 404.988 416.1488 Answer: Within 12
months of the date of the initial determination
Within 4 years with a good cause
- Good causes include:
AND COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE 2026
▶ Resources 416 Subpart L (SSI only) Answer: resources means cash or
other liquid assets or any real or personal property that an individual (or
spouse, if any) owns and could convert to cash to be used for his or her
support and maintenance.
Limit:
$2,000 individual person
$3,000 Couple
▶ Res Judicata 404.957 416.1457 Answer: "Matter already Judged." A
claim cannot be retried between the same parties if it has already been
legally resolved.
▶ Collateral Estoppel 404.950 416.1450 Answer: "Issue Already Decided"
An issue at your hearing may be a fact that has already been decided in
one of our previous determinations or decisions in a claim involving the
same parties, but arising under a different title of the Act or under the
Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act. If this happens, the
administrative law judge will not consider the issue again, but will accept
the factual finding made in the previous determination or decision unless
there are reasons to believe that it was wrong.
- This is on both a denial or allowance
▶ Common Law Marriage 404.726 Answer: This is recognized by SSA if
State claimant lives in recognizes it.
BUT, it needs preferred evidence.
- example - signed statement from spouses and usually two blood relatives.
▶ Self Employment 404.1575 416.975 Answer: Have to complete "the
Three Tests"
, 1. You have engaged in substantial gainful activity if you render services
that are significant to the operation of the business and receive a
substantial income from the business. (over 45 hours a month)
2. You have engaged in substantial gainful activity if your work activity, in
terms of factors such as hours, skills, energy output, efficiency, duties, and
responsibilities, is comparable to that of unimpaired individuals in your
community who are in the same or similar businesses as their means of
livelihood.
3. You have engaged in substantial gainful activity if your work activity,
although not comparable to that of unimpaired individuals, is clearly worth
the amount shown in § 404.1574(b)(2) when considered in terms of its
value to the business, or when compared to the salary that an owner would
pay to an employee to do the work you are doing.
▶ Unsuccessful Work Attempt (UWA) 404.1592c Answer: Work lasting up
to 6 months that the claimant is forced to stop or reduce below the SGA
level because of the claimant's disability. Such work is disregarded when
evaluating the claimant's disability under the sequential evaluation process.
▶ Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) Answer: -- In determining
SGA, the cost of certain impairment-related items and services that are
related to work are deducted from the individual's earnings
-- To qualify, the item or service must be necessary for the person to work,
be related to the disability, be paid for by the person, and be paid by the
person in a month during which they worked.
**if a person is close to income/asset limit, this can help qualify them.
▶ Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS) Answer: offered by the Social
Security Administration to help people save money for education, training,
&/or any other activity that will help them further their career goals.
It is an SSI provision to help individuals with disabilities return to work.
▶ Good Cause for Reopening 404.988 416.1488 Answer: Within 12
months of the date of the initial determination
Within 4 years with a good cause
- Good causes include:
