There are basically two ways
of winning a Social Security Disability or SSI case:
(1) Your medical condition is so
severe that it meets or equals the level of severity
that Social Security has listed for that particular
condition.
(2) You cannot physically or
mentally do the easiest job you had during the 15
years before you became disabled and your age, education, past work experience,
skills, and the amount of physical force you can do
make it unlikely you can adjust to other work. Social Security uses a series of
charts (or "grids") to determine whether
under these medical - vocational rules you should be
considered disabled.
The following charts are taken
from the medical - vocational rules. These charts,
divided by age group, show the combination of factors that
would result in Social Security deciding that a person is
disabled.
The charts use the terms sedentary,
light and medium to describe the amount of
physical force (or exertion) that someone can do. Medium
means that a person can lift 20 pounds frequently during
an 8-hour workday and 50 pounds occasionally. Light
means a person can lift 10 pounds frequently and 20 pounds
occasionally. Sedentary means a person can only lift
up to 10 pounds and cannot do a job that would require
more than 2 hours of standing or walking during an 8-hour
day.
Even if your situation does
not fit the combinations set forth in these charts, you
may still win your Social Security Disability or SSI case
if a vocational expert testifies at a hearing that the
limitations imposed by your particular medical problems,
combined with your age, education, work experience and
skills, make it unlikely you could find a job.
Ages 45 to 49
Exertion
Education
Previous Work
Experience
Sedentary
Illiterate or
unable to communicate in English
Unskilled or
none
Ages 50 to 54
Exertion
Education
Previous Work
Experience
Sedentary
Limited or
less
Unskilled or
none
Sedentary
Limited
or less
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
Sedentary
High
school graduate or more-does not provide for
direct entry into skilled work
Unskilled or
none
Sedentary
High
school graduate or more-does not provide for
direct entry into skilled work
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
Light
Illiterate
or unable to communicate in English
Unskilled or
none
Ages 55 to 59
Exertion
Education
Previous Work
Experience
Sedentary
Limited or
less
Unskilled or
none
Sedentary
Limited
or less
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
Sedentary
High
school graduate or more-does not provide for
direct entry into skilled work
Unskilled or
none
Sedentary
High
school graduate or more-does not provide for
direct entry into skilled work
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
Light
Limited
or less
Unskilled or
none
Light
Limited
or less
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
Light
High
school graduate or more-does not provide for
direct entry into skilled work
Unskilled or
none
Light
High
school graduate or more-does not provide for
direct entry into skilled work
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
Medium
Limited
or less
None
Ages 60 to 64
Exertion
Education
Previous Work
Experience
Sedentary
Limited or
less
Unskilled or
none
Sedentary
Limited or
less
Skilled or
semiskilled-skills not transferable
Sedentary
High school
graduate or more-does not provide for direct entry
into skilled work
Unskilled or
none
Sedentary
High school
graduate or more-does not provide for direct entry
into skilled work
Skilled or
semiskilled-skills not transferable
Light
Limited or
less
Unskilled or
none
Light
Limited or
less
Skilled or
semiskilled-skills not transferable
Light
High school
graduate or more-does not provide for direct entry
into skilled work
Unskilled or
none
Light
High school
graduate or more-does not provide for direct entry
into skilled work
Skilled or
semiskilled-skills not transferable
Medium
Marginal or
none
Unskilled or
none
Medium
Limited or
less
None
When You Need a Social
Security Disability Lawyer,
Rely on Us for Skill,
Determination and Experience.
