Social Security Terms in Plain Language
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: July 16, 2021
Some of the terms and acronyms (an abbreviation of the first letters of words in a phrase) people use when they talk about Social Security can be a little confusing. We’re here to help you understand all you need to know.
Social Security employees strive to explain benefits using easy-to-understand, plain language. In fact, The Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires federal agencies to communicate clearly in a way “the public can understand and use.”
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 our online glossary.
Social Security’s acronyms function as verbal shorthand in your financial planning 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. These terms involve your benefit amount based on when you decide to take it.
If you take your retirement benefit at FRA, you’ll receive the full PIA (amount payable for a retired worker who starts benefits at full retirement age). So, FRA is an age and PIA is an amount.
Once you receive benefits, you get a COLA most years. But don’t expect a fizzy drink — a COLA is a Cost of Living Adjustment, and that will usually mean a little extra money in your monthly payment.
What about DRCs? Delayed retirement credits are the incremental increases added to the PIA if you delay taking retirement benefits beyond your full retirement age. If you wait to begin benefits beyond FRA — say, at age 68 or even 70 — your benefit increases.
If one of those unknown terms or acronyms comes up in conversation, you can be the one to supply the definition using our online glossary. Sometimes learning the terminology can deepen your understanding of w Social Security works for you. Discover and share more on our website.
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About the Author
Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner
Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner
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essam e.
it is too late for me to talk about that because i am retired now since 2003
dennis g.
why does my local SSA office refuse to acknowledge that since I am born before 1954 that i can file a RESTRICTIVE BENEFIT APPLICATION although some say they are aware and others say there is no such thing and ask me to prove it to them. The only way i was able to apply was to have Filing a Restrictive Application in the Remarks section of the application. I cannot get any written proof that it was processed as such. SSA has three different letters/documents that show different names that I applied for a spousal benefit which gives me much to worry about, or should i not be concerned?
tony
The US population only grew by 17% since 2000, but the total number of people receiving mental disability benefits grew by over 50%.
Mental disability affects a ceratin percentage of the population which hasn’t change, so there is a disparity in the amount of people becoming disabled on social security in the US.
The number of people claiming to be mentally disabled grew, so fast that there is a shortage of psychiatrist and psychologist.
tony
The Substantial Gainful Activity(SGA) is only $1220/month. Most state minimum wage is more than this amount and some are double.
They can work half as much part time and perform SGA. The State’s minimum wage should be taken into account.
Lawyers have been able to scam the SSA saying if their client missed three days a month, then they wouldn’t be able to perform SGA.
They would not not be able to keep a full time job, but they can find a part time job. There are plenty of employers offering part time jobs with flexible hours because they don’t have to pay benefits. Many employers including fast food restaurants are always accepting applications.
There are so many people receiving mental disability or applying for mental disability that there is a shortage of psychiatrist and psychologist to treat them. The shortage of psychiatrist and psychologist has even affected the amount CE exams done in Tennessee and across the country.
The standard to get approved for mental disability is so low that the millions are applying each year. Mental disability has become a defacto lifetime job opportunity where they don’t have to work and get paid.
The economy can’t support the number of people claiming to be disabled evidence by the shortage of psychiatrist and psychologist.
Michele
I have loved ones who are honest and truly struck down with severe lifetime anxiety illness. Sure don’t appreciate your less than empathic or even thoughtful assessment of those who suffer with this nearly untreatable problem. And, why is it so difficult to understand that millions suffer from this problem?
tony
Has the SSA updated the term for severe anxiety. PTSD is no longer grouped with anxiety in the DSM-5. PTSD is not an anxiety. Why are people getting disability for general anxiety disorder? General anxiety mean they haven’t meet all the requirement of the specific anxiety disorder. They haven’t even meet the minimum requirements for even mild agoraphobia.
Most competitive jobs require the ability to travel to and from work and thus, would be precluded by extreme agoraphobiain which the person is incapable of leaving his or her home. However, a mild case of agoraphobia may not preclude the ability to travel to and from work or preclude work performed in the same (and thus, familiar) setting each day.
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0425020010
Disability claimants learn to game the system and taught to say they are afraid to leave their home. They also say they are afraid to be around other people and in groups. You can easily tell the fraudster is trying to game the system. Psychiatrist/Psychologist will diagnose someone with a mild case of agoraphobia, but they will definitely diagnose someone with a severe case of agoraphobia.
Lindita D.
The 35 years work history. I been in this country for 22 years and I have worked and still working so far 21 years. My retairement age is 67, and by that time I would cumulates total 30 years of work history. The calculation of my social security payment will be adding a $0 for the missing 5 years. I don’t think this is fair to all workers who immigrated lawfully to the USA and have worked many years in their country.
In additional the Congress is trying to make changes to the social security with out a memorandum to all people who are social security eligible.
Christine R.
I have been trying to sign into my social security. The web site states it will send me a code around 2 minutes and will expire in 10 minutes. I have tried twice today and each time the code arrives in 11 minutes. How can I sign in????
lesly f.
I think social security Administration.
I have a lot wrong name with people with wrong ss # but in my case that’s i can’t have my benefits i deserved from my records.ssa have to help prevent bad scammer people records.
Thanks !
Sahara K.
What does “a fizzy drink” mean in your sentence:
“Once you receive benefits, you get a COLA most years. But don’t expect a fizzy drink — a COLA is a Cost of Living Adjustment, and that will usually mean a little extra money in your monthly payment.”
More gobbledygook?
Chris S.
A cola is a soft drink, think Pepsi or Coke. A COLA is a Cost Of Living Adjustment. So you can buy more cola with your COLA…. hope this helped explain their attempt at humor. This stuff is such a pain in the rear, a little humor helps.
Oscar T.
Stop confusing the elderly please, it looks somebody there is trying to justify there position.