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Title 20

Displaying title 20, up to date as of 9/11/2026. Title 20 was last amended 9/09/2026.
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  1. Title 20 —Employees' Benefits
  2. Chapter III —Social Security Administration
  3. Part 404 —Federal Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (1950- )
  4. Subpart P   View Full Text
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Title 20Employees' BenefitsPart / Section
Chapter IIISocial Security Administration400 – 499
Part 404Federal Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (1950- )404.1 – 404.2127
Subpart PDetermining Disability and Blindness404.1501 – 404.1599
General404.1501 – 404.1502
§ 404.1501Scope of subpart.
§ 404.1502Definitions for this subpart.
Determinations404.1503 – 404.1504
§ 404.1503Who makes disability and blindness determinations.
§ 404.1503aProgram integrity.
§ 404.1503bEvidence from excluded medical sources of evidence.
§ 404.1504Decisions by other governmental agencies and nongovernmental entities.
Definition of Disability404.1505 – 404.1511
§ 404.1505Basic definition of disability.
§ 404.1506When we will not consider your impairment.
§ 404.1508 [Reserved]
§ 404.1509How long the impairment must last.
§ 404.1510Meaning of substantial gainful activity.
§ 404.1511Definition of a disabling impairment.
Evidence404.1512 – 404.1518
§ 404.1512Responsibility for evidence.
§ 404.1513Categories of evidence.
§ 404.1513aEvidence from our Federal or State agency medical or psychological consultants.
§ 404.1514When we will purchase existing evidence.
§ 404.1515Where and how to submit evidence.
§ 404.1516If you fail to submit medical and other evidence.
§ 404.1517Consultative examination at our expense.
§ 404.1518If you do not appear at a consultative examination.
Standards To Be Used in Determining When a Consultative Examination Will Be Obtained in Connection With Disability Determinations404.1519 – 404.1519b
§ 404.1519The consultative examination.
§ 404.1519aWhen we will purchase a consultative examination and how we will use it.
§ 404.1519bWhen we will not purchase a consultative examination.
Standards for the Type of Referral and for Report Content404.1519f – 404.1519q
§ 404.1519fType of purchased examinations.
§ 404.1519gWho we will select to perform a consultative examination.
§ 404.1519hYour medical source.
§ 404.1519iOther sources for consultative examinations.
§ 404.1519jObjections to the medical source designated to perform the consultative examination.
§ 404.1519kPurchase of medical examinations, laboratory tests, and other services.
§ 404.1519mDiagnostic tests or procedures.
§ 404.1519nInforming the medical source of examination scheduling, report content, and signature requirements.
§ 404.1519oWhen a properly signed consultative examination report has not been received.
§ 404.1519pReviewing reports of consultative examinations.
§ 404.1519qConflict of interest.
Authorizing and Monitoring the Referral Process404.1519s
§ 404.1519sAuthorizing and monitoring the consultative examination.
Procedures To Monitor the Consultative Examination404.1519t
§ 404.1519tConsultative examination oversight.
Evaluation of Disability404.1520 – 404.1523
§ 404.1520Evaluation of disability in general.
§ 404.1520aEvaluation of mental impairments.
§ 404.1520bHow we consider evidence.
§ 404.1520cHow we consider and articulate medical opinions and prior administrative medical findings for claims filed on or after March 27, 2017.
§ 404.1521Establishing that you have a medically determinable impairment(s).
§ 404.1522What we mean by an impairment(s) that is not severe.
§ 404.1523Multiple impairments.
Medical Considerations404.1525 – 404.1535
§ 404.1525Listing of Impairments in appendix 1.
§ 404.1526Medical equivalence.
§ 404.1527Evaluating opinion evidence for claims filed before March 27, 2017.
§ 404.1528 [Reserved]
§ 404.1529How we evaluate symptoms, including pain.
§ 404.1530Need to follow prescribed treatment.
§ 404.1535How we will determine whether your drug addiction or alcoholism is a contributing factor material to the determination of disability.
Residual Functional Capacity404.1545 – 404.1546
§ 404.1545Your residual functional capacity.
§ 404.1546Responsibility for assessing your residual functional capacity.
Vocational Considerations404.1560 – 404.1569a
§ 404.1560When we will consider your vocational background.
§ 404.1562Medical-vocational profiles showing an inability to make an adjustment to other work.
§ 404.1563Your age as a vocational factor.
§ 404.1564Your education as a vocational factor.
§ 404.1565Your work experience as a vocational factor.
§ 404.1566Work which exists in the national economy.
§ 404.1567Physical exertion requirements.
§ 404.1568Skill requirements.
§ 404.1569Listing of Medical-Vocational Guidelines in appendix 2.
§ 404.1569aExertional and nonexertional limitations.
Substantial Gainful Activity404.1571 – 404.1576
§ 404.1571General.
§ 404.1572What we mean by substantial gainful activity.
§ 404.1573General information about work activity.
§ 404.1574Evaluation guides if you are an employee.
§ 404.1574aWhen and how we will average your earnings.
§ 404.1575Evaluation guides if you are self-employed.
§ 404.1576Impairment-related work expenses.
Widows, Widowers, and Surviving Divorced Spouses404.1577 – 404.1579
§ 404.1577Disability defined for widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses for monthly benefits payable for months prior to January 1991.
§ 404.1578How we determine disability for widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses for monthly benefits payable for months prior to January 1991.
§ 404.1579How we will determine whether your disability continues or ends.
Blindness404.1581 – 404.1587
§ 404.1581Meaning of blindness as defined in the law.
§ 404.1582A period of disability based on blindness.
§ 404.1583How we determine disability for blind persons who are age 55 or older.
§ 404.1584Evaluation of work activity of blind people.
§ 404.1585Trial work period for persons age 55 or older who are blind.
§ 404.1586Why and when we will stop your cash benefits.
§ 404.1587Circumstances under which we may suspend and terminate your benefits before we make a determination.
Continuing or Stopping Disability404.1588 – 404.1599
§ 404.1588Your responsibility to tell us of events that may change your disability status.
§ 404.1589We may conduct a review to find out whether you continue to be disabled.
§ 404.1590When and how often we will conduct a continuing disability review.
§ 404.1591If your medical recovery was expected and you returned to work.
§ 404.1592The trial work period.
§ 404.1592aThe reentitlement period.
§ 404.1592bWhat is expedited reinstatement?
§ 404.1592cWho is entitled to expedited reinstatement?
§ 404.1592dHow do I request reinstatement?
§ 404.1592eHow do we determine provisional benefits?
§ 404.1592fHow do we determine reinstated benefits?
§ 404.1593Medical evidence in continuing disability review cases.
§ 404.1594How we will determine whether your disability continues or ends.
§ 404.1595When we determine that you are not now disabled.
§ 404.1596Circumstances under which we may suspend and terminate your benefits before we make a determination.
§ 404.1597After we make a determination that you are not now disabled.
§ 404.1597aContinued benefits pending appeal of a medical cessation determination.
§ 404.1598If you become disabled by another impairment(s).
§ 404.1599Work incentive experiments and rehabilitation demonstration projects in the disability program.
Appendix 1 to Subpart P of Part 404
Listing of Impairments
Appendix 2 to Subpart P of Part 404
Medical-Vocational Guidelines
eCFR Content