Social Security Compliance Course

Lesson 1 • Funding Mechanisms and Solvency

Explains payroll-based funding, trust fund accounting, and long-term solvency projections. Connects funding structure to benefit sustainability discussions with clients.

Lesson 2 • Programme Architecture and Structure

Maps the major programme categories including retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. Clarifies how each programme interrelates within the broader system.

Lesson 3 • History and Purpose of Social Security

Traces the origins of social insurance from early welfare models to modern programmes. Provides context for understanding current benefit structures and policy rationale.

Lesson 1 • Self-Employment and Special Work Rules

Addresses contribution rules for self-employed individuals and workers in special categories. Ensures practitioners can advise clients with non-traditional employment histories.

Lesson 2 • Dependent and Auxiliary Eligibility

Covers eligibility rules for spouses, children, and dependents based on a worker's record. Enables full household benefit analysis for client planning.

Lesson 3 • Covered vs. Non-Covered Employment

Distinguishes employment types that generate covered earnings from those that do not. Identifies how non-covered work affects benefit calculations and offsets.

Lesson 1 • Earnings Records and Indexing

Explains how lifetime earnings are recorded, indexed for wage growth, and used in benefit formulas. Accurate indexing is the foundation of all benefit calculations.

Lesson 2 • Primary Insurance Amount Formula

Applies the progressive benefit formula to convert AIME into the Primary Insurance Amount. Students practice formula application across varied earnings profiles.

Lesson 3 • Auxiliary and Survivor Benefit Amounts

Calculates benefit amounts for spouses, children, and survivors derived from a worker's PIA. Applies family maximum rules to determine actual payable amounts.

Lesson 1 • Full Retirement Age and Benefit Adjustments

Defines full retirement age and the actuarial adjustments applied for early or delayed claiming. Establishes the baseline for all retirement timing decisions.

Lesson 2 • Spousal and Coordinated Claiming

Analyses joint claiming strategies for married couples to maximise household lifetime income. Addresses sequencing decisions and survivor income protection.

Lesson 3 • Voluntary Suspension and Withdrawal Options

Covers the rules for suspending or withdrawing a retirement benefit claim after filing. Enables practitioners to correct suboptimal claiming decisions for clients.

Lesson 4 • Earnings Test and Work Considerations

Explains the earnings test that reduces benefits for early claimants who continue working. Clarifies how withheld benefits are later restored at full retirement age.

Lesson 1 • Disability Programme Overview and Eligibility

Distinguishes the two primary disability programmes by eligibility basis and benefit structure. Clarifies insured status requirements and income limits for each programme.

Lesson 2 • Work Incentives and Trial Work Periods

Explains provisions that allow disability beneficiaries to attempt work without immediate benefit loss. Enables practitioners to support clients pursuing employment while on benefits.

Lesson 3 • Medical Evidence and Documentation

Identifies the types of medical evidence required and strategies for building a strong evidentiary record. Directly impacts claim approval rates at initial and appeal stages.

Lesson 4 • Filing the Initial Disability Claim

Walks through the application process, required forms, and common filing errors to avoid. Prepares practitioners to submit complete, accurate initial applications.

Lesson 1 • Post-Hearing Decisions and Next Steps

Analyses fully favourable, partially favourable, and unfavourable decision types and appropriate responses. Prepares practitioners to advise clients on post-decision options.

Lesson 2 • Overview of the Appeals Process

Maps the four-level appeals structure from reconsideration through federal court review. Establishes deadlines and procedural requirements at each stage.

Lesson 3 • Preparing for Administrative Hearings

Covers case theory development, evidence submission, and pre-hearing preparation strategies. Strong preparation is the primary driver of favourable hearing outcomes.

Lesson 4 • Practitioner Authorisation and Ethics

Defines who may represent claimants, authorisation requirements, and ethical obligations in representation. Ensures practitioners operate within regulatory and professional boundaries.

Lesson 1 • Medicare Enrolment Periods and Rules

Explains initial, special, and general enrolment periods and the consequences of late enrolment. Prevents costly premium penalties through timely enrolment guidance.

Lesson 2 • Medicare Programme Structure

Describes the four parts of Medicare, their coverage scope, and premium structures. Provides the foundation for integrating Medicare into social security planning.

Lesson 3 • Coordination with Employer Coverage

Addresses how Medicare coordinates with active employer group health plans and retiree coverage. Enables practitioners to advise working clients on enrolment sequencing.

Lesson 1 • Government Pension Offset and Windfall Provisions

Explains two offset provisions that reduce benefits for workers with non-covered government pensions. Practitioners can calculate adjusted benefit amounts and set accurate client expectations.

Lesson 2 • Benefits for Non-Citizens and International Workers

Addresses eligibility rules for non-citizen residents and workers covered under totalisation agreements. Ensures practitioners can serve clients with international work histories.

Lesson 3 • Taxation of Social Security Benefits

Covers the income thresholds and formulas that determine what portion of benefits is taxable. Integrates tax planning into comprehensive retirement income strategies.

Lesson 4 • Divorce, Remarriage, and Benefit Rights

Analyses divorced spouse and survivor benefit rules including marriage duration and remarriage effects. Enables accurate benefit analysis for clients with complex marital histories.