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DISABILITY CLAIMS: VOCATIONAL EVIDENCE

In another blog I wrote about the importance of proper medical evidence in winning a Social Security disability claim.  Here I want to consider vocational evidence.  Vocational evidence includes your education or training, age, skills and previous work experience.  Also, is there a significant number of jobs like yours that exist in the national, regional or local economy?  

 In the initial application for disability benefits claimants are asked to complete a work background or job history report.  A vocational consultant will review the kind of work you have done in the past and determine whether you can now perform any of that work.  It is vital that the report accurately and adequately explain exactly the type work you did, the equipment or machines that were used, the skills required and the exertional level required.  Being too non-specific in describing your previous work routines may harm your case.

 For example, it isn't enough to say, "I ran a stamping machine."  You should also include such details as:

  • How many hours per day were you on your feet at this job?
  • What is the heaviest weight that you lifted at work?
  • How much weight did you lift frequently?
  • Did the job require frequent bending, stooping, kneeling or other difficult postural movements?
  • Did the jobs require you to make judgments or use special skills?
  • Were there duties attached to the job that are not typical?  For instance, a receptionist who also had to lift and store office supply deliveries.
If your claim goes before a judge for a hearing, the vocational expert (VE) who attends is going to assign a classification for each or your previous jobs, using the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT).  Later, the judge will ask the VE to state whether you can still perform the full range of duties required by each of your past relevant jobs. It is important that the VE understands what the full range of duties for each job entailed. 

The more specific you can be when describing each of your past jobs, the better.   Give lots of details about what the jobs required.  Your representative may be able to use these details to show that you are not able to perform any of your past relevant work.  Finally, it will necessary to demonstrate that you cannot perform "any other work" that exists in substantial numbers in the national economy.  A carefully crafted Medical Source Statement, listing your exertional or mental limitations will be useful in this step.  Visit local Social Security advocates in Huntsville here.


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