SS Part 5: How Does SS Determine Disability?

Attorney George Sink Sr.: 

When reviewing your claim, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will use a series of questions to determine your disability.

Attorney Alan Kennington: 

Is the claimant engaging in substantial gainful activity? This means any work activity that involves doing significant physical or mental activities. Your work may be substantial even if it's part-time, pays less, or has less responsibility.

Attorney George Sink Sr.: 

Does the claimant have a severe impairment? If your disability significantly affects any abilities needed to perform your basic work activities, then it's usually considered severe.

Attorney Alan Kennington: 

Does the claimant's medical impairment meet or equal a listing in Social Security's Listing of Impairments? If your condition matches Social Security's criteria exactly, you meet the Listing and you are considered disabled. 

However, if it does not, and often claimants do not meet the Listing, choosing to have a lawyer help you is a wise thing to do to avoid making serious and even fatal mistakes in the processing of your claim.

Attorney George Sink Sr.: 

Can the claimant perform past relevant work? This means work done at the level of substantial gainful activity within the past 15 years, and includes jobs performed long enough to properly learn how to do that particular job.

Attorney Alan Kennington: 

Can the claimant perform other work that exist in significant numbers in the national economy? If you are unable to perform any other sedentary jobs that are available, then you could answer “no” to this question. However, keep in mind that Social Security lists 200 sedentary unskilled jobs.