(REALLY) WEIRD JOBS THAT MAY GET YOUR BENEFITS DENIED

Social Security uses an obsolete publication to identify jobs. These jobs can be used to deny disability claims.  The publication that Social Security decision makers must use is The Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT), first published in the 1930s and last updated in 1993.  The DOT describes 12,569 jobs.  Many of them are from a bygone era-but they are still in the DOT.  

Here are a few of the more ridiculous jobs still listed as of 2017.  The DOT code number is given, to prove this is no joke.

  • Horse Identifier   DOT Code 153.387-010
  • Horse and Wagon Driver  919.664-010
  • Butter Melter   523-585-010
  • Animal Impersonator   159.047-018
  • Bucket Chucker   664.685-014
  • Belly Roller   583.685-094
  • Side Splitter   525-684-018
  • Worm Picker   413-687-010
  • Egg Smeller   521.687-042
  • Bowling Ball Weigher   732.487-010
And my personal favorite....
  • Coach Driver, DOT Code 349.677-014.  The DOT job description reads:  "May clean or polish vehicle such as a carriage, wagon or cart." 
If you are judged physically and mentally able to perform one of these jobs (or any other job in the DOT) you may be denied benefits at Step 5 of the sequential decision making process.  Sad, but true.

The US Department of Labor considers the DOT to be obsolete.  However, the Social Security Administration considers it their main vocational resource--the definitive guide to jobs in the modern age, the Bible of work.

Judges are required to confirm that any vocational testimony "confirms to the DOT."  Social Security has even taken "administrative notice" of the DOT, which makes it difficult to challenge it. Social Security's attitude:  If it's in the DOT, it's the Gospel.

This could be one reason your disability claim was denied:  reliance upon such "solid data" as the DOT.  Some federal courts have reversed based on the DOT on appeal.  Most do not.  The DOT needs to be discarded and replaced. It has been severely out of date at least since 1993.  

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