Understanding Social Security Disability sequential evaluation

Applying for Social Security Disability can be a long and arduous process. Once you’ve applied and submitted all the necessary documents, you’re then subject to a sequential evaluation process. Understanding this sequence can be immensely beneficial in not just knowing what to expect, but also in planning your next steps. In this blog, we’ll be discussing the Social Security Disability Sequel Evaluation process and how it can impact your claim.

1. What is the Social Security Disability Sequel Evaluation Process?

The process is broken down into 5 sequential steps:

1. Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) is evaluated. If you earn over a predetermined amount, you may not qualify for SSDI benefits. This amount changes yearly with inflation and such. The higher Substantial Gainful Activity is the more you can earn without being what Social Security calls a technical denial. If you are earning above this then in most cases your medical condition or conditions will not matter no matter how severe they are.

2. Severity of the disability is assessed. To qualify the conditions must be severe. This makes sense if you can not work it is not because you bruised your knee. Now if you lost your leg up to your knee this is another story. How much does the disability affect the person’s physical and/or mental function to perform.

3. The Listing of Impairments is evaluated. See if any of the alleged impairments meet a listing. If so then the Claimant must be found disabled. The listing of impairments and said qualifications for each listing can be found online with a simple google search. This eliminates the need to do more testing because in order to meet a listing your condition is very bad and you are essentially de facto disabled.

4. Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) is assessed. This is where in hearings you will hear about hypothetical individuals. The judge is asking several hypotheticals so he can choose the best one once he has evaluated all the evidence in a case. The judges usually use the least restrictive hypothetical first. In other words, the vocational expert may list a litany of jobs do not worry this does not mean that you are not disabled. Jobs they list must be relevant in numbers for our current economy.

In addition to any physical limitations or mental limitations the judge takes into account pain and how that pain will impact performance on the job or other jobs available in the national economy.

5. Ability to do previous work is evaluated as well as your capacity to perform other types of jobs. The younger an individual the more difficult it becomes to be found disabled. The more educated the harder it is to be found disabled.

A person of advanced age might have to show only that he cannot do his previous work. While a younger individual will have to show that there is no work available in the economy.

The Social Security Disability Sequel Evaluation process can seem daunting and complex. But with a little bit of understanding, it can be beneficial in knowing what to expect and planning your next steps. Remember, SSA uses a comprehensive sequential evaluation process to ensure candidates receive the benefits they deserve. Keep in mind that timelines vary, depending on your case, but a better understanding of the process can give you a clearer understanding of what to expect. You should hire a lawyer to help you with the process and it does not have to be me. I would love the opportunity to earn your business. Call me at 865-888-8888 if you need help or have any other questions.