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Social Security Disability Law

Additional Information For Those Planning To Take The 2007 Social Security Specialization Examination

The examination consists of a three hour morning session and a three hour afternoon session.

There are 900 total points on the examination. Passing score on the entire examination is 630 points. If the committee decides not to score one or more questions because of problems which become apparent after administering the examination, the passing score will be adjusted to 70% of the total points on the examination.

The morning session consists of 19 widely varying questions. Of these 19, two are labeled long essay questions. The rest are a variety of shorter essay and short answer questions. The point value of each morning question is shown. The point values vary widely from question to question.

There are 90 multiple choice questions on the afternoon portion of the examination. Each afternoon session question counts for 5 points.

Those taking the examination should assume the current statutes, regulations and interpretations in effect in North Carolina. Do not consider any planned or proposed changes in the appeals process. Also please assume that the questions concern claimants who live in North Carolina.

The NC State Bar Specialization Website includes a list of topics covered on the examination with an indication of those topics that were particularly troublesome for those who took that examination.

In preparation for drafting the 2007 examination, the Social Security Specialization Committee drew up a list of topics that were not covered in the 2006 examination that might be serve as topics for new questions for the 2007 examination. That list is shown below. There will not be a question on each of these new topics on the 2007 examination, but there will be questions on some of these topics.

Acceptable medical sources

Adopted children

Aged widows benefits

Aliens

Appeals Council

Approval for more than one type of Title II benefit

Back benefits as SSI resource

CDRs

Child's benefits

Child's SSI

Correcting earnings record

Death of claimant

Dedicated accounts

Deferred development at DDS

Deficits in adaptive functioning

Direct deposit

Disabled widowers benefits

Drug abuse and alcoholism

Earnings that may not represent SGA - sick pay, vacation pay, disability benefits, military wages while in medical holding company

Expedited processing

Extended period of eligibility

Failure to follow prescribed treatment

Federal Court

Fugitive felon

Illegitimate children

In forma pauperis

In-kind support and maintenance

Interim benefits

Magistrate jurisdiction

Medicare qualified government employees