Here are the 5 basic steps every application goes through.
The 5 stages of the application are designed to test for the eligibility of the disability reported.One caveat to note is that if a claimant fails at any point in this 5 step process other than step 3, the process is terminated and the claimant is declared to be ineligible for benefits.
- Substantial gainful activity - At this step, a caseworker from the SS office must validate that an applicant is not currently engaging any activity that is both “substantial” and “gainful” work. The catch is that the activity must have both characteristics. Work that is substantial refers to any work that involves significant physical and mental activities. If you are unable to do simple tasks without more supervision than usually required, then the work is not substantial. In the case of work being gainful, the caseworker would consider whether the job can be done for pay or profit even if profit is not realized. As implied, the qualifications for work is very loosely defined. So then even illegal activities can be recognized as work.
- Severity step - This is the stage where the disability stated would be evaluated on its seriousness.This step is in an attempt to weed out frivolous cases. A frivolous case would be one which has no medically determinable impairments or only shows an applicant has minor limitations. With this step what most applicants do not know is that if there is any reduction in their residual functional capacity , it is enough to serve as proof for how severe a medically determinable impairment is.
- Listing of impairments(hyperlink disability)- To successfully get through this process, an applicant’s medical records must meet the requirements in the list of impairments provided by the Social Security Office. When the applicant is found to be disabled at this step, there is no inquiry into ability to do past work or other work. (The list provided by the Social Security Office is an important section to consider because if disability matches the impairments, step 4 and 5 are not considered). If the impairments are not listed, your lawyer can still prove that your current disability is similar to what is indicated in the listing of impairments.
- Past relevant work -At this stage, an applicant's work history is evaluated. The caseworker from the SS office would consider insured work that an individual has done in the last 15 years, prior to when the claim was filed. If an applicant’s last work period is later than 15 years or not insured, the job must be substantially gainful. In all cases, the job must have been done long enough to establish an average performance.
- Other work - At this step, a case worker evaluates, if work the claimant does outside of a paid job.This step is usually most relevant when past relevant work cannot be established. This highly complicated step determines if the applicant can make an adjustment to other work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy considering the applicant;s remaining work capacity, age, education and work experience.
