20 CFR 404.1 – Introduction
The regulations in this part 404 (Regulations No. 4 of the Social Security Administration) relate to the provisions of title II of the Social Security Act as amended on August 28, 1950, and as further amended thereafter. The regulations in this part are divided into 22 subparts:
Terms Used In 20 CFR 404.1
- Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
- Entitlement: A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law. Entitlements constitute a binding obligation on the part of the Federal Government, and eligible recipients have legal recourse if the obligation is not fulfilled. Social Security and veterans' compensation and pensions are examples of entitlement programs.
(a) Subpart A contains provisions relating to general definitions and use of terms.
(b) Subpart B relates to quarters of coverage and insured status requirements.
(c) Subpart C relates to the computation and recomputation of the primary insurance amount.
(d) Subpart D relates to the requirements for entitlement to monthly benefits and to the lump-sum death payment duration of entitlement and benefit rates.
(e) Subpart E contains provisions relating to the reduction and increase of insurance benefits and to deductions from benefits and lump-sum death payments.
(f) Subpart F relates to overpayments, underpayments, waiver of adjustment or recovery of overpayments and liability of certifying officers.
(g) Subpart G relates to filing of applications and other forms.
(h) Subpart H relates to evidentiary requirements for establishing an initial and continuing right to monthly benefits and for establishing a right to lump-sum death payment. (Evidentiary requirements relating to disability are contained in subpart P.)
(i) Subpart I relates to maintenance and revision of records of wages and self-employment income.
(j) Subpart J relates to initial determinations, the administrative review process, and reopening of determinations and decisions.
(k) Subpart K relates to employment, wages, self-employment and self-employment income.
(l) Subpart L is reserved.
(m) Subpart M relates to coverage of employees of State and local Governments.
(n) Subpart N relates to benefits in cases involving veterans.
(o) Subpart O relates to the interrelationship of the old-age, survivors and disability insurance program with the railroad retirement program.
(p) Subpart P relates to the determination of disability or blindness.
(q) Subpart Q relates to standards, requirements and procedures for States making determinations of disability for the Commissioner. It also sets out the Commissioner’s responsibilities in carrying out the disability determination function.
(r) Subpart R relates to the provisions applicable to attorneys and other individuals who represent applicants in connection with claims for benefits.
(s) Subpart S relates to the payment of benefits to individuals who are entitled to benefits.
(t) Subpart T relates to the negotiation and administration of totalization agreements between the United States and foreign countries.
(u) Subpart U relates to the selection of a representative payee to receive benefits on behalf of a beneficiary and to the duties and responsibilities of a representative payee.
(v) Subpart V relates to payments to State vocational rehabilitative agencies for vocational rehabilitation services.