EDPNA EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
ACCURATE QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
DETAILED SOLUTIONS ||
100% GUARANTEED PASS
<NEWEST VERSION>
1. What is the EDPNA program? - ANSWER ✔ The Eligible for Direct
Payment Non-Attorney (EDPNA) program allows qualified non-attorneys to
represent Social Security claimants and receive direct payment of fees from
the SSA.
2. What is the purpose of the SSA Non-Attorney Representative (EDPNA)
Program Page? - ANSWER ✔ It provides information on eligibility
requirements, exam announcements, instructions, and an overview of direct
payment authority.
3. What is POMS? - ANSWER ✔ The Program Operations Manual System
(POMS) is the SSA's primary policy manual used for internal guidance and
as a major open-book reference during the exam.
4. What key topics are covered in POMS? - ANSWER ✔ POMS covers
representative eligibility, fee and direct payment rules, and policies for Title
II (SSDI) and Title XVI (SSI).
5. What is 20 CFR? - ANSWER ✔ The Code of Federal Regulations (20
CFR) contains the official SSA regulations, specifically Part 404 for Title II
(SSDI) and Part 416 for Title XVI (SSI).
6. How should exam takers approach 20 CFR? - ANSWER ✔ Focus on
identifying and applying regulatory authority rather than memorizing
specific section numbers.
,7. What are Social Security Rulings (SSRs)? - ANSWER ✔ SSRs are official
interpretations of SSA regulations that are binding on the agency and
commonly referenced in exam scenarios.
8. What is HALLEX? - ANSWER ✔ The Hearings, Appeals, and Litigation
Law Manual (HALLEX) provides procedural guidance regarding the
hearings and appeals process, ALJ authority, and representative conduct.
9. Is the EDPNA exam open-book? - ANSWER ✔ Yes, the EDPNA exam is
open-book, meaning candidates may use official reference materials during
the test.
10.The practice items for the Social Security Administration Direct Payment to
Non-Attorney Representatives Examination are available below. These
items are for practice purposes only and will not appear on the actual
examination. All names used in these practice items are purely fictional and
do not apply to any real claimants or any other individual. The items are
multiple choice and there is only 1 correct answer for each question. The
actual examination will also appear in this format. Select the button under
each question to reveal the answer. Refreshing the page will hide the
answers.
11.Which statement best describes the term "severe" impairment? - ANSWER
✔ c. An impairment or combination of impairments is only severe if the
impairment significantly impacts at least one basic work activity.
12.You are representing your client at a hearing. A vocational expert (VE) is
present. The ALJ asks if the VE has reviewed Exhibit 15F, which is a
consultative psychological examination report, in which the psychologist
opines that your client is capable of performing simple, repetitive, unskilled
tasks that do not require ongoing contact with the public or coworkers. The
VE states that he has reviewed this report. The ALJ asks if he agrees with
the limitations that have been assessed, and the VE says that he does agree
with the limitations contained in that report. Which statement is most
accurate about the ALJ's questioning of the VE? - ANSWER ✔ d.
Improper, because the VE is offering his opinion about the relationship of
the limitations to the clinical signs and findings, thus rendering an opinion
on medical issues.
,13.Acceptable Medical Evidence - ANSWER ✔ We need objective medical
evidence from an AMS to establish the existence of a medically
determinable impairment (MDI) at step 2 of the sequential evaluation
process
Examples
1. Physicians (MD or DO)
2. Licensed/Certified Psychologists (also School Psych)
3. Licensed Optometrist/Podiatrist/Audiologist/Speech-Language Pathologist
***Claims filed after 3/27/2017 accept sources from:
APRN, APN, Certified Nurse Midwife, CNS, CRNA, NP - although these
might weigh less
14.Opinion Evidence - ANSWER ✔ Evidence of what a physician or person
thinks, believes, or infers in regard to a fact in dispute, as distinguished from
personal knowledge of the facts.
- reflects the nature or severity of impairment & establishment of RFC.
15.Social Security Disability Insurance SSDI Citation - ANSWER ✔ CFR 20
Section 404
16.Good Cause for Late Filing (Citations: 404.911, 416.1411) - ANSWER ✔
If an appeal deadline is missed, and the claimant wants to appeal, he or she
must show "good cause" for late filing.
17.Examples of good cause are described in 404.911: - ANSWER ✔ • You
were seriously ill and were prevented from contacting us in person, by
phone, in writing, or through a friend, relative, or other person;
• There was a death or serious illness in your immediate family;
• Important records were destroyed or damaged by fire or other
accidental cause;
• You were making serious efforts to find necessary
information to support the claim but had not been able to
obtain it within the stated time periods;
• You requested additional information from us explaining this
action within the time limit. Within 60 days of receiving the
explanation you requested reconsideration or a hearing, or
within 30 days of receiving the explanation you requested
Appeals Council review or filed a civil suit;
, • We gave you misleading, incorrect or incomplete information
about when and how to request administrative review or to
file a civil suit;
• You did not receive notice of the determination or decision;
• You sent the request to another government agency in good
faith within the time limit and the request did not reach us
until after the time period had expired; or
• Unusual or unavoidable circumstances exist, which show that
you could not have known of the need to file timely, or which
prevented you from filing timely.
18.SSA will consider the following for deciding whether a claimant had good
cause - ANSWER ✔ • What circumstances kept the claimant from making
the request on time;
• Whether SSA's action mislead the claimant;
• Whether the claimant did not understand the requirements;
• Whether the claimant had any physical, mental, educational,
or linguistic limitations which prevented them from making a
timely request or from understanding or knowing about the
need to file a timely request for review.
19.Social Security Disability Insurance SSDI - ANSWER ✔ Title XVI
20.SSDI Eligibility - ANSWER ✔ 1. Is the applicant under full retirement age
(66)?
2. Is the applicant fully insured?
4. Is the applicant insured for disability?
21.Auxiliary Benefits - ANSWER ✔ Benefits can be paid to the disabled
worker's family in some cases. Benefits can be paid to dependent children
under the age of 18 or a spouse (or divorced spouse if married for 10 years)
under the age of 62 who has joint care of the children.
22.Supplemental Security Insurance SSI - ANSWER ✔ Title II
23.Supplemental Security Insurance SSI Citation - ANSWER ✔ CFR 20
Section 416
24.SSI - ANSWER ✔ No work requirement
ACCURATE QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
DETAILED SOLUTIONS ||
100% GUARANTEED PASS
<NEWEST VERSION>
1. What is the EDPNA program? - ANSWER ✔ The Eligible for Direct
Payment Non-Attorney (EDPNA) program allows qualified non-attorneys to
represent Social Security claimants and receive direct payment of fees from
the SSA.
2. What is the purpose of the SSA Non-Attorney Representative (EDPNA)
Program Page? - ANSWER ✔ It provides information on eligibility
requirements, exam announcements, instructions, and an overview of direct
payment authority.
3. What is POMS? - ANSWER ✔ The Program Operations Manual System
(POMS) is the SSA's primary policy manual used for internal guidance and
as a major open-book reference during the exam.
4. What key topics are covered in POMS? - ANSWER ✔ POMS covers
representative eligibility, fee and direct payment rules, and policies for Title
II (SSDI) and Title XVI (SSI).
5. What is 20 CFR? - ANSWER ✔ The Code of Federal Regulations (20
CFR) contains the official SSA regulations, specifically Part 404 for Title II
(SSDI) and Part 416 for Title XVI (SSI).
6. How should exam takers approach 20 CFR? - ANSWER ✔ Focus on
identifying and applying regulatory authority rather than memorizing
specific section numbers.
,7. What are Social Security Rulings (SSRs)? - ANSWER ✔ SSRs are official
interpretations of SSA regulations that are binding on the agency and
commonly referenced in exam scenarios.
8. What is HALLEX? - ANSWER ✔ The Hearings, Appeals, and Litigation
Law Manual (HALLEX) provides procedural guidance regarding the
hearings and appeals process, ALJ authority, and representative conduct.
9. Is the EDPNA exam open-book? - ANSWER ✔ Yes, the EDPNA exam is
open-book, meaning candidates may use official reference materials during
the test.
10.The practice items for the Social Security Administration Direct Payment to
Non-Attorney Representatives Examination are available below. These
items are for practice purposes only and will not appear on the actual
examination. All names used in these practice items are purely fictional and
do not apply to any real claimants or any other individual. The items are
multiple choice and there is only 1 correct answer for each question. The
actual examination will also appear in this format. Select the button under
each question to reveal the answer. Refreshing the page will hide the
answers.
11.Which statement best describes the term "severe" impairment? - ANSWER
✔ c. An impairment or combination of impairments is only severe if the
impairment significantly impacts at least one basic work activity.
12.You are representing your client at a hearing. A vocational expert (VE) is
present. The ALJ asks if the VE has reviewed Exhibit 15F, which is a
consultative psychological examination report, in which the psychologist
opines that your client is capable of performing simple, repetitive, unskilled
tasks that do not require ongoing contact with the public or coworkers. The
VE states that he has reviewed this report. The ALJ asks if he agrees with
the limitations that have been assessed, and the VE says that he does agree
with the limitations contained in that report. Which statement is most
accurate about the ALJ's questioning of the VE? - ANSWER ✔ d.
Improper, because the VE is offering his opinion about the relationship of
the limitations to the clinical signs and findings, thus rendering an opinion
on medical issues.
,13.Acceptable Medical Evidence - ANSWER ✔ We need objective medical
evidence from an AMS to establish the existence of a medically
determinable impairment (MDI) at step 2 of the sequential evaluation
process
Examples
1. Physicians (MD or DO)
2. Licensed/Certified Psychologists (also School Psych)
3. Licensed Optometrist/Podiatrist/Audiologist/Speech-Language Pathologist
***Claims filed after 3/27/2017 accept sources from:
APRN, APN, Certified Nurse Midwife, CNS, CRNA, NP - although these
might weigh less
14.Opinion Evidence - ANSWER ✔ Evidence of what a physician or person
thinks, believes, or infers in regard to a fact in dispute, as distinguished from
personal knowledge of the facts.
- reflects the nature or severity of impairment & establishment of RFC.
15.Social Security Disability Insurance SSDI Citation - ANSWER ✔ CFR 20
Section 404
16.Good Cause for Late Filing (Citations: 404.911, 416.1411) - ANSWER ✔
If an appeal deadline is missed, and the claimant wants to appeal, he or she
must show "good cause" for late filing.
17.Examples of good cause are described in 404.911: - ANSWER ✔ • You
were seriously ill and were prevented from contacting us in person, by
phone, in writing, or through a friend, relative, or other person;
• There was a death or serious illness in your immediate family;
• Important records were destroyed or damaged by fire or other
accidental cause;
• You were making serious efforts to find necessary
information to support the claim but had not been able to
obtain it within the stated time periods;
• You requested additional information from us explaining this
action within the time limit. Within 60 days of receiving the
explanation you requested reconsideration or a hearing, or
within 30 days of receiving the explanation you requested
Appeals Council review or filed a civil suit;
, • We gave you misleading, incorrect or incomplete information
about when and how to request administrative review or to
file a civil suit;
• You did not receive notice of the determination or decision;
• You sent the request to another government agency in good
faith within the time limit and the request did not reach us
until after the time period had expired; or
• Unusual or unavoidable circumstances exist, which show that
you could not have known of the need to file timely, or which
prevented you from filing timely.
18.SSA will consider the following for deciding whether a claimant had good
cause - ANSWER ✔ • What circumstances kept the claimant from making
the request on time;
• Whether SSA's action mislead the claimant;
• Whether the claimant did not understand the requirements;
• Whether the claimant had any physical, mental, educational,
or linguistic limitations which prevented them from making a
timely request or from understanding or knowing about the
need to file a timely request for review.
19.Social Security Disability Insurance SSDI - ANSWER ✔ Title XVI
20.SSDI Eligibility - ANSWER ✔ 1. Is the applicant under full retirement age
(66)?
2. Is the applicant fully insured?
4. Is the applicant insured for disability?
21.Auxiliary Benefits - ANSWER ✔ Benefits can be paid to the disabled
worker's family in some cases. Benefits can be paid to dependent children
under the age of 18 or a spouse (or divorced spouse if married for 10 years)
under the age of 62 who has joint care of the children.
22.Supplemental Security Insurance SSI - ANSWER ✔ Title II
23.Supplemental Security Insurance SSI Citation - ANSWER ✔ CFR 20
Section 416
24.SSI - ANSWER ✔ No work requirement
