Social Security Disability and Jobs Within the National Economy
If you apply for disability benefits from the social security administration, either under the SSI or social security disability program, there will be a good chance that your claim will be denied at the initial claim (aka disability application) level. Not to sound morose, but, statistically, that's simply how it plays out for the majority of all individuals filing disability claims.
If you get denied for disability, what will the reason be? Well, some claims are denied on the basis of SGA, which stands for substantial gainful work activity. This basically means that the claimant was working and earning too much. Typically, this type of denial occurs at the social security office before the case ever has the chance to be sent to a disability examiner, though sometimes it happens after medical development (gathering and evaluating the medical records) has begun.
Some claims, a small percentage, are denied due to NSI, or non-severe impairment. This basically means that the disability examiner was easily able to conclude that the claimant's alleged condition was not even remotely disabling. Example: sprained wrist.
However, most claims are denied using the rationale that the claimant can return to their past work (one of the jobs they performed within the past 15 years), OR the rationale that, even if they can't return to their past work, they can do some form of other work.
"Other work" is sort of a catch-all way to deny a lot of social security disability and SSI claims. Basically, this is what happens: a disability examiner will identify the claimant's past jobs, what the exertional requirements of those past jobs were, and what the skill levels of those past jobs were (represented by numbered ratings). If it is determined that the claimant cannot go back to one of their past relevant jobs, the examiner will consult a resource book that lists thousands upon thousands of jobs in the national economy and try to come up with three jobs that match the exertional requirements and skill levels of the claimant's past work. Very often, this is quite easy for the examiner to do, meaning that the claimant will be denied for disability on the basis that they can perform some type of other work.
This is basically what is meant by jobs within the national economy, the simple fact that a disability adjudicator was able to identify three jobs that the claimant could potentially perform other than work that they've done in the past. In fact, many disability examiner processing units already have preset sheets of "other work jobs" that a claimant might be able to do based on exertion level and work skill level.
Here's one problem, though, with the whole concept: when disability examiners scout for "other jobs" in the reference book (known as the DOT, or dictionary of occupational titles), it is done without regard for geographical location. Meaning, those jobs might exist in the national economy but only a thousand miles away on the other side of the country. Not an easy proposition for older workers (fortunately, the vocational rules give consideration for older workers). Here's another problem: the reference work used by disability adjudicators is very much out of date. It would probably not be a stretch to say that there are hundreds or even thousands of jobs that exist today, that have been created in the last 15 years, that are not in the DOT. Technology jobs would likely be a good example of this.
This is all the more reason, of course, for supplying accurate and detailed information about your work history when you file for disability. It is very important to not only include job titles and dates of employment, but also detailed descriptions of what was actually done on each job. Because this can make the difference as to how a job is identified by a disability examiner. And how a job is identified can have a decisional impact on a claim.
Note: some DDS agencies are now putting extra special emphasis on researching all jobs listed by a claimant at the time of application in an effort to strengthen denials that are issued on the basis of a claimant's ability to return to their past work.
Return to:
Social Security Disability Secrets
Social Security Disability Benefit Questions
Other Posts
What if I disagree with the decision on my social security disability case?
Qualifying for disability on the first application
What Are You Allowed to Earn on Social Security Disability? (trial work period)
Social Security Disability and to Qualify for Benefits
Filing For Social Security Disability- Work History and Medical Records
Can I Get Social Security Disability If I Have not Worked in a Long Time?
What Should I Bring to my Social Security Disability Application Interview?
How Do I Apply For Disability In The State of Florida?
Social security disability SSI and breast cancer
Disability Claims Filed For Mental Conditions
If you get denied for disability, what will the reason be? Well, some claims are denied on the basis of SGA, which stands for substantial gainful work activity. This basically means that the claimant was working and earning too much. Typically, this type of denial occurs at the social security office before the case ever has the chance to be sent to a disability examiner, though sometimes it happens after medical development (gathering and evaluating the medical records) has begun.
Some claims, a small percentage, are denied due to NSI, or non-severe impairment. This basically means that the disability examiner was easily able to conclude that the claimant's alleged condition was not even remotely disabling. Example: sprained wrist.
However, most claims are denied using the rationale that the claimant can return to their past work (one of the jobs they performed within the past 15 years), OR the rationale that, even if they can't return to their past work, they can do some form of other work.
"Other work" is sort of a catch-all way to deny a lot of social security disability and SSI claims. Basically, this is what happens: a disability examiner will identify the claimant's past jobs, what the exertional requirements of those past jobs were, and what the skill levels of those past jobs were (represented by numbered ratings). If it is determined that the claimant cannot go back to one of their past relevant jobs, the examiner will consult a resource book that lists thousands upon thousands of jobs in the national economy and try to come up with three jobs that match the exertional requirements and skill levels of the claimant's past work. Very often, this is quite easy for the examiner to do, meaning that the claimant will be denied for disability on the basis that they can perform some type of other work.
This is basically what is meant by jobs within the national economy, the simple fact that a disability adjudicator was able to identify three jobs that the claimant could potentially perform other than work that they've done in the past. In fact, many disability examiner processing units already have preset sheets of "other work jobs" that a claimant might be able to do based on exertion level and work skill level.
Here's one problem, though, with the whole concept: when disability examiners scout for "other jobs" in the reference book (known as the DOT, or dictionary of occupational titles), it is done without regard for geographical location. Meaning, those jobs might exist in the national economy but only a thousand miles away on the other side of the country. Not an easy proposition for older workers (fortunately, the vocational rules give consideration for older workers). Here's another problem: the reference work used by disability adjudicators is very much out of date. It would probably not be a stretch to say that there are hundreds or even thousands of jobs that exist today, that have been created in the last 15 years, that are not in the DOT. Technology jobs would likely be a good example of this.
This is all the more reason, of course, for supplying accurate and detailed information about your work history when you file for disability. It is very important to not only include job titles and dates of employment, but also detailed descriptions of what was actually done on each job. Because this can make the difference as to how a job is identified by a disability examiner. And how a job is identified can have a decisional impact on a claim.
Note: some DDS agencies are now putting extra special emphasis on researching all jobs listed by a claimant at the time of application in an effort to strengthen denials that are issued on the basis of a claimant's ability to return to their past work.
Return to:
Other Posts
What if I disagree with the decision on my social security disability case?
Qualifying for disability on the first application
What Are You Allowed to Earn on Social Security Disability? (trial work period)
Social Security Disability and to Qualify for Benefits
Filing For Social Security Disability- Work History and Medical Records
Can I Get Social Security Disability If I Have not Worked in a Long Time?
What Should I Bring to my Social Security Disability Application Interview?
How Do I Apply For Disability In The State of Florida?
Social security disability SSI and breast cancer
Disability Claims Filed For Mental Conditions
Labels: social security disability work
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