WHY YOU DIDN'T GET APPROVED FOR DISABIILTY

Most Social Security disability claims get denied these days because they believe you can perform "other work."  Other work means that while you may not be able to perform your past work, there are less demanding jobs that you can still do.  Here are 10 of the "other jobs" that Social Security often says disabled persons can still perform (examples):
  1. sack repairer
  2. silverware wrapper
  3. ticket taker
  4. parking garage attendant
  5. furniture store rental clerk 
  6. garment tagger
  7. small parts assembley
  8. eyeglass assembler
  9.  surveillance system monitor
  10. wire bender
Where do these jobs come from?  From the outdated Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT), last published in 1993 and based on occupational research performed almost 40 years ago!  

 I had a laugh with an attorney the other day who said he was just thankful that they had finally removed stagecoach driver from the list of "other jobs."  However, it is no laughing matter when one of your clients gets denied because of one of these antiquated jobs!

 What's the best defense when a vocational expert says you can still do one of these (or similar) jobs?  You can argue with the D.O.T. but it may not get you a winning decision.  I think the best approach is to build a case supporting a limited residual function capacity that does not allow for any type of work.  Period.  That is going to involve getting the claimant's doctor to give an opinion concerning functional limitations, such as the ability to sit, stand, walk, lift, stoop, bend, concentrate, persist, etc. 

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