 |
Five Steps Social Security Follows in Deciding If You Are Disabled:
1. Is the applicant working? If yes and his or her earnings average more than $1,000 per month, he or she generally will not be approved for benefits. There are special circumstances that can allow approval, even when earnings exceed $1,000 a month. We will know if you meet those circumstances.
2. Is the applicant's condition "severe"? The answer to this question depends on the extent to which the condition interferes with basic work-related work activities.
3. Is the applicant's condition found in SSA's list of disabling impairments? SSA keeps a list of impairments that are so severe they automatically warrant a finding of disability. We know what is on that list and how to show that your condition is the same as a condition on the list.
|
|
4. Can the applicant do the work he or she did previously? If an applicant's condition is severe, but not as severe as any listed impairment, SSA must determine if the condition interferes with the applicant's ability to do the work she or he did in the last 15 years.
5. Can the applicant do any type of work? If the applicant cannot do the work he or she did in the last 15 years, SSA evaluates whether he/she can do any other type of work, considering the applicant's age, education, past work experience, and transferable skills. SSA may use the services of a "vocational expert" who will testify about the availability of jobs for which the claimant is qualified and about any skills from the claimant's past work, which may transfer to a new job.
|
