EDPNA LATEST EXAM PREP
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PDF 2026
▶ 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:
1. New material evidence is furnished
2. Clerical error in the computation (errors in math/computer) or re-
computation of benefits was made.
3. The evidence that was considered in making the determination or
decision clearly shows its face that an error was made
▶ Disability Answer: the inability to do any substantial gainful activity by
reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which
can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected
to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
- To meet this definition, you must have a severe impairment(s) that makes
you unable to do your past relevant work or any other substantial gainful
work that exists in the national economy.
- If your severe impairment(s) does not meet or medically equal a listing in
appendix 1, we will assess your residual functional capacity. We will use
this RFC assessment to determine if you can do your past relevant work.
- If we find that you cannot do your past relevant work, we will use the
same RFC assessment and your vocational factors of age, education, and
work experience to determine if you can do other work.
▶ Residual Functional Capacity Assessment (RFC) 404.1506 Answer: the
purpose of______________ is to identify how your current limitations
prevent you from meeting the physical, sensory, mental, and other
requirements of the workplace.
▶ Medically Determinable Impairment (MDI) 404.1521 416.921 Answer:
Your impairment(s) must result from anatomical, physiological, or
, psychological abnormalities that can be shown by medically acceptable
clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques.
- Therefore, a physical or mental impairment must be established by
objective medical evidence from an acceptable medical source.
- We will not use your statement of symptoms, a diagnosis, or a medical
opinion to establish the existence of an impairment(s).
▶ Non-Severe Impairment 404.1522 416.922 Answer: If your impairment
does not significantly limit your ability either physically or mentally to do
basic activities.
examples:
- walking, standing, sitting, lifting, pushing, pulling
- Capacities of seeing, hearing & speaking
- Understanding, Carrying out, remembering, simple instructions
- Use of judgement
- Responding appropriately to supervision, co-workers, & usual work
situations
- Dealing with changes in routine work settings
▶ Multiple Impairments 404.1523 416.923 Answer: 1. Unrelated Severe
Impairments: We cannot combine two or more unrelated severe
impairments to meet the 12-month duration test.
2. Concurrent Impairments: If you have two or more concurrent
impairments that, when considered in combination, are severe, we must
determine whether the combined effect of your impairments can be
expected to continue to be severe for 12 months.
3. Combined Effect: In determining whether your physical or mental
impairment(s) are of a sufficient medical severity that such impairment(s)
could be the basis of eligibility under the law, we will consider the combined
effect of all of your impairments without regard to whether any such
impairment, if considered separately, would be of sufficient severity.
▶ Who makes disability determinations? 404.1503 416.903 Answer:
Reserved commissioners of SSA
- A treating doctor helps us to understand the impairments & limitations.
- A doctor stating you are "disabled" or "cannot work" is not always helpful
- Initial & Recon Decisions - made by state vocational/disability
determination services. They are authorized by the commissioners of SSA.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PDF 2026
▶ 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:
1. New material evidence is furnished
2. Clerical error in the computation (errors in math/computer) or re-
computation of benefits was made.
3. The evidence that was considered in making the determination or
decision clearly shows its face that an error was made
▶ Disability Answer: the inability to do any substantial gainful activity by
reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which
can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected
to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
- To meet this definition, you must have a severe impairment(s) that makes
you unable to do your past relevant work or any other substantial gainful
work that exists in the national economy.
- If your severe impairment(s) does not meet or medically equal a listing in
appendix 1, we will assess your residual functional capacity. We will use
this RFC assessment to determine if you can do your past relevant work.
- If we find that you cannot do your past relevant work, we will use the
same RFC assessment and your vocational factors of age, education, and
work experience to determine if you can do other work.
▶ Residual Functional Capacity Assessment (RFC) 404.1506 Answer: the
purpose of______________ is to identify how your current limitations
prevent you from meeting the physical, sensory, mental, and other
requirements of the workplace.
▶ Medically Determinable Impairment (MDI) 404.1521 416.921 Answer:
Your impairment(s) must result from anatomical, physiological, or
, psychological abnormalities that can be shown by medically acceptable
clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques.
- Therefore, a physical or mental impairment must be established by
objective medical evidence from an acceptable medical source.
- We will not use your statement of symptoms, a diagnosis, or a medical
opinion to establish the existence of an impairment(s).
▶ Non-Severe Impairment 404.1522 416.922 Answer: If your impairment
does not significantly limit your ability either physically or mentally to do
basic activities.
examples:
- walking, standing, sitting, lifting, pushing, pulling
- Capacities of seeing, hearing & speaking
- Understanding, Carrying out, remembering, simple instructions
- Use of judgement
- Responding appropriately to supervision, co-workers, & usual work
situations
- Dealing with changes in routine work settings
▶ Multiple Impairments 404.1523 416.923 Answer: 1. Unrelated Severe
Impairments: We cannot combine two or more unrelated severe
impairments to meet the 12-month duration test.
2. Concurrent Impairments: If you have two or more concurrent
impairments that, when considered in combination, are severe, we must
determine whether the combined effect of your impairments can be
expected to continue to be severe for 12 months.
3. Combined Effect: In determining whether your physical or mental
impairment(s) are of a sufficient medical severity that such impairment(s)
could be the basis of eligibility under the law, we will consider the combined
effect of all of your impairments without regard to whether any such
impairment, if considered separately, would be of sufficient severity.
▶ Who makes disability determinations? 404.1503 416.903 Answer:
Reserved commissioners of SSA
- A treating doctor helps us to understand the impairments & limitations.
- A doctor stating you are "disabled" or "cannot work" is not always helpful
- Initial & Recon Decisions - made by state vocational/disability
determination services. They are authorized by the commissioners of SSA.
