TYPES OF WORK SOCIAL SECURITY CONSIDERS

Before awarding an SSDI benefit, Social Security must convince itself that you are not able to sustain full-time work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, 50 weeks per year.

Of course, the physical demands of work vary a great deal from job to job.  Social Security recognizes 5 exertion levels in today's workforce:

SEDENTARY WORK requires mostly sitting with lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time, the ability to occasionally lift and carry files or small tools; occasional standing and walking (less than 2 hours per day).

LIGHT WORK requires lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time (occasionally), frequent lifting and carrying objects weighing up to 10 pounds; frequent walking or standing or sitting while pushing arm or leg controls.

MEDIUM WORK involves lifting up to 50 pounds occasionally and frequently lifting or carrying objects weighing up to 25 pounds.  It also requires frequent standing/walking.  If you can do medium work, you can also do light work.

HEAVY WORK requires lifting no more than 100 pounds occasionally and lifting and carrying objects weighing up to 50 pounds frequently.  It requires frequent standing/walking. If you can do heavy work, you can also do medium work.

VERY HEAVY WORK involves lifting objects weighing no more than 100 pounds at a time and frequently lifting and carrying objects that weight more than 50 pounds. Frequent standing/walking required. If you can perform very heavy work, you can also perform heavy work.

Q.  If I can perform Light work, can I also perform sedentary work?  The answer is yes, usually.  There are 2 exceptions:  

If a claimant has difficulty sitting for prolonged periods of time, or has difficulty performing fine manipulations with the hands (feeling, fingering, pinching), the person might be found capable of performing Light work but not Sedentary work.

The above limitations are only exertional.  They do not take into account postural limitations such as reaching, bending, crouching, squatting, kneeling, balancing, climbing).  They also do not take into account any mental limitations (memory, focus/concentration, decision making, etc.).  All jobs do have certain mental functional abilities which are required.

For claimants under the age of 50, Social Security will usually deny claimants if they are found able to perform jobs at any exertion level.  For those over age 50, the rules are a little more relaxed and the Medical-Vocational Guidelines can be helpful.

 

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