| Webster's definition of disabled is someone who is | | | | that an impairment needs to meet to be considered |
| incapacitated by either illness or injury. Due to the | | | | disabling. The list is both specific and detailed, making it |
| vagueness of Webster's definition of disabled and | | | | very difficult for a claimant to meet. If your impairment |
| others like it, most people applying for Social Security | | | | does not meet the listing, the SSA will then determine |
| disability benefits believe that they have a clear | | | | whether your condition is equal to the severity of one |
| disablement that entitles them to just compensation. | | | | of the listed impairments. On the other hand, if you |
| However, contrary to common belief, the Social | | | | meet the required listing, you will satisfy the third step |
| Security Administration (SSA) determines whether | | | | of the sequential process. The Blue Book can be |
| someone is disabled based on a five step, sequential | | | | found on the Administration's website at |
| Social Security disability evaluation process. | | | | Step Four: Can you do previous work? |
| The five step Social Security disability evaluation | | | | SSA may determine that your condition is severe, but |
| process is what your attorney or claimants | | | | nonetheless determine that it does not meet or equal a |
| representative needs to argue in order to win your | | | | required listing. If that is the case, SSA will decide |
| disability benefits claim. The five step process is | | | | whether your impairment prevents you from being |
| sequential and is argued the same for every disability | | | | able to perform your past work. Social Security wants |
| claim and is as follows: | | | | to know what is your Residual Functional Capacity |
| Step One: Are you working and are you performing | | | | (RFC). Your RFC is the most work that you can do |
| Substantial Gainful Activity? | | | | despite all of your limitations. In general, if you can |
| If your earnings average more than $980.00 per month | | | | perform some of your past SGA work from the last |
| gross, then the SSA will consider you as working at a | | | | fifteen years, then you will not be adjudicated as |
| Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level and will not find | | | | disabled. |
| you to be disabled. $980.00 per month is evaluated | | | | Step Five: What work can you do? |
| based on actual wages. Even if you have a disabling | | | | Even if you are unable to perform any of the jobs you |
| condition, surpassing the SGA level will most likely | | | | have had in the previous fifteen years, Social Security |
| disqualify you and your disability claim. | | | | can still deny your disability claim if the Administration |
| Step Two: Is your condition severe? | | | | can prove that there is a significant number of jobs in |
| The SSA will consider your impairment or combination | | | | the local or national economy that you can perform. In |
| of impairments severe if it interferes with basic work | | | | this final step, Social Security will consider your age, |
| related activity. Your condition must be severe enough | | | | education, and past work experience. The rules that |
| to last for at least a twelve month period. | | | | apply to this step change depending on how old you |
| Step Three: Does your condition meet or exceed a | | | | are. In general, if you are over 50 years old the rules |
| listed impairment? | | | | become easier but you would still have to eliminate |
| The SSA issues the "Blue Book," which consists of a | | | | most of the jobs in the economy to win your disability |
| list of impairments that specifically details the severity | | | | claim. |