Benefit program glossary
Simple explanations of terms used on this site and in government benefit programs.
AMI — Area Median Income
The middle household income for your area, published by HUD. Housing programs use percentages of AMI (30%, 50%, 80%) to decide who qualifies. This site defaults to the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria/Fairfax County area.
Example: If AMI is $58,150 for one person, 50% AMI is $29,075/year.
EPE — Extended Period of Eligibility
A 36-month period after your 9-month Trial Work Period ends. During EPE, SSDI cash can restart in months your earnings fall below SGA, and stop again in months above SGA.
HCV — Housing Choice Voucher
Also called Section 8. Helps low-income households pay rent in private-market apartments. Fairfax County generally requires income at or below 50% AMI, with preference for lower incomes.
LIHEAP
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Helps with heating and cooling bills in some states.
Medicare Part B
The part of Medicare that covers doctor visits and outpatient care. Most SSDI recipients pay a monthly premium (about $202.90 in 2026).
Medicare Savings Program
State-run programs that help pay Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance for people with limited income and resources.
SGA — Substantial Gainful Activity
A monthly earnings limit set by Social Security. In 2026 it is $1,690/month for non-blind individuals. Earnings over SGA after the Trial Work Period can stop SSDI cash benefits.
SNAP
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps. Monthly food assistance based on income and household size.
SSDI — Social Security Disability Insurance
Disability benefit based on your work credits. It is not needs-based, so you can work and keep Medicare for many years.
SSI — Supplemental Security Income
Needs-based disability benefit for people with limited income and resources. Wages usually reduce SSI faster than SSDI.
TWP — Trial Work Period
A 9-month window for SSDI recipients. In any month your gross earnings are over the TWP amount, you use one of the 9 months. SSDI cash continues during TWP.
EITC — Earned Income Tax Credit
A federal tax credit for workers with low-to-moderate income. It can increase your refund even if you owe no income tax.
FRA — Full Retirement Age
The age when you can receive 100% of your Social Security retirement benefit. It ranges from 65 to 67 depending on birth year.
Retirement earnings test
A rule that can reduce Social Security retirement benefits if you work and earn above an annual limit before reaching FRA. It ends the month you reach FRA.
Payment standard
The maximum rent a housing voucher will cover for a given apartment size and area. The voucher subsidy is based on this number, not the full contract rent.
Tenant rent / contract rent
Contract rent is the total agreed rent. Tenant rent is the portion the tenant actually pays after the voucher subsidy is applied.
Utility allowance
The amount a housing authority estimates you pay for utilities. It is subtracted from your required tenant share in voucher math.
Avalanche vs. snowball
Two debt payoff strategies. Avalanche pays highest-interest debt first and saves the most money. Snowball pays smallest balance first and can feel faster.
Community Services Board (CSB)
Virginia's local agencies that provide mental health, substance use, and developmental disability services. Each county or city has its own CSB.
Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
Your total gross income minus specific adjustments, such as deductible retirement contributions. Many tax and benefit estimates start with AGI.
Gross income vs. net / take-home pay
Gross income is before taxes and deductions. Net or take-home pay is what lands in your account. The Work calculator estimates take-home using a rough tax rate.
Countable income (SSI)
SSI does not count every dollar you receive. Some wages, student income, PASS set-asides, and other exclusions reduce what SSA counts, which lowers the SSI reduction.
IRWE — Impairment-Related Work Expenses
Work costs related to your disability that SSA can deduct from earnings when figuring SSI or SSDI work incentives. Examples include specialized transportation, medical devices, or a personal attendant.
PASS — Plan to Achieve Self-Support
An SSI work incentive that lets you set aside income and resources for a specific work goal, such as job training, equipment, or starting a business.
BWE — Blind Work Expenses
Work expenses that blind SSI recipients can deduct from countable earnings, including guide-dog costs, transportation, and work-related equipment.
SEIE — Student Earned Income Exclusion
An SSI exclusion for students under age 22. It lets a significant amount of earned income be ignored so benefits continue while in school.
RealMarket zones (Blue / Green / Yellow)
Fairfax County groups ZIP codes into three HCV payment-standard zones. Blue generally has the highest payment standard, Green is standard, and Yellow is lower.
HUD income limits
Annual income caps published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. They are used for 30%, 50%, and 80% AMI thresholds in housing programs.
Voucher subsidy / HAP
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is the amount the housing authority pays to the landlord on your behalf. The tenant pays the rest.
Medicare Part A / Part D
Part A covers hospital and inpatient care. Most people do not pay a premium. Part D covers prescription drugs and is provided through private plans.
Medicaid buy-in / Medicaid Works
Programs that let people with disabilities keep Medicaid while working by paying a small premium or meeting income rules. Virginia and other states have variations.
ABLE account
A tax-advantaged savings account for people disabled before age 26. Money in an ABLE account generally does not count toward SSI or Medicaid resource limits if used for qualified disability expenses.
CDB / DAC — Childhood Disability Beneficiary / Disabled Adult Child
A Social Security benefit for adults disabled before age 22 who have a retired, disabled, or deceased parent with sufficient work credits. It is sometimes called DAC.
Overpayment
When Social Security pays more benefits than you were due, often because of work or income changes. SSA may ask you to repay it, but waivers and repayment plans exist.
Windfall offset
When you are eligible for both SSDI and SSI in the same month, the total amount paid cannot exceed the higher benefit. One program’s payment may be reduced so you do not receive both in full.
Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD)
The local agency that administers Fairfax County’s Housing Choice Voucher program and related housing assistance.
FCRHA — Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority
The local agency that administers Fairfax County's Housing Choice Voucher program, affordable housing, and related redevelopment efforts. Also called Fairfax County Housing.
Virginia HAVEN / EnergyShare
Virginia programs that help eligible households with heating, cooling, and weatherization costs. HAVEN often serves households with young children, seniors, or disabilities; EnergyShare is Dominion Energy's crisis assistance program.
Cover Virginia / Medicaid expansion
Virginia's Medicaid program. The 2019 expansion extended coverage to more low-income adults. Medicaid can work with Medicare, SSI, and employment programs.
FMR / Small Area FMR
Fair Market Rent is HUD's estimate of what a modest apartment costs in an area. Small Area FMR breaks this down by individual ZIP code, which Fairfax County uses to set HCV payment standards.
Rent reasonableness
A rule that says a landlord cannot charge a voucher holder more than what similar unassisted units in the area rent for. The unit must also be within the payment standard.
HQS — Housing Quality Standards
The safety and condition rules a unit must pass before a Housing Choice Voucher can be used. An inspector checks things like plumbing, heat, electrical, and smoke detectors.
Portability
The right to move with your Housing Choice Voucher to another housing authority's area. You can move within Fairfax County or to another state, but the new payment standard and rules may differ.
VASH — Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing
A voucher program combining HUD rental assistance with VA supportive services for homeless veterans. It works like a Housing Choice Voucher but with veteran-specific case management.
EHV — Emergency Housing Voucher
A temporary voucher program created during the pandemic for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or recently housed. Local housing authorities allocate EHVs.
PBV vs. HCV
Project-Based Voucher (PBV) ties the rental subsidy to a specific property. Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) follows the tenant, so you can move with it. PBV may have a shorter wait in some buildings but less flexibility.
Gross rent
For voucher math, gross rent is the contract rent plus the utility allowance. It must generally be at or below the payment standard for the unit to be approved without extra tenant cost.
TTP — Total Tenant Payment
The amount a voucher household must pay toward rent and utilities each month. It is usually the greater of 10% of gross income or 30% of adjusted income, minus the utility allowance, with a 40% cap.
Take-home pay estimate
The Work calculator's rough estimate of what lands in your bank account after federal payroll taxes. It uses a flat 25% estimate, not your exact withholdings or state taxes.
30% rule / 50% AMI cap
Housing programs often expect you to pay about 30% of your adjusted income toward rent. For Fairfax County HCV eligibility, total household income is generally capped at 50% of Area Median Income.
Benefits cliff / subsidy cliff
The drop in total assistance when a small income increase makes you ineligible for a benefit. For example, earning $100 more might reduce SSI by more than $100, or push you over 50% AMI for HCV.
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