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SOCIAL SECURITY'S DEFINITION OF "WORK'? CAN YOU WORK?

Is there work that you are able to do?  If so, you are probably not disabled under Social Security rules.  So, let's consider what Social Security means by the term 'work.'

Work refers to the ability to sustain work activity for 8 hours a day, 5 days per week, or an equivalent schedule.  Anything less than that is not work under Social Security rules.

You are unable to work, for example, if you can......
  • work 5 or 6 hours a day but not 8 hours
  • work 3 or 4 days a week but not 5 days
  • work part-time but not full-time
  • work for a few weeks but then have to miss several days due to a flareup
  • work for several months but then have to miss a month or two due to illness on a persistent, regular basis
  • report to work 5 days a week but have to leave early several times a month because of illness, pain, depression, etc.
  • work most days but often have to come in late due to sickness
  • work most days but will be absent 3 or more days per month due to illness.
So, the real issue with Social Security is this:  Are you able to work full-time, 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year--without missing more than 1 or 2 days per month on a persistent basis?  In other words, can you sustain full time work?  If the answer is no, you are disabled.

Keep in mind that there are many different kinds of work, ranging from very easy work to very difficult work.  Social Security classifies work by its exertion requirement--from sedentary (sitting) to very heavy (lifting 100 pounds or more).  Work is also classified by the skill level required to perform the work:  unskilled, semi-skilled or skilled.

Therefore, it's very difficult to speak of "work" without asking, "What kind of work?"  You may be unable to do some kinds of work but able to do other kinds of work.  Individuals under the age of 50 generally must prove that they cannot perform ANY work available in the national economy.  Persons over the age of 50 may be only be required to show that they are unable to perform their past relevant work (work they performed during the past 15 years).

Other factors that will enter into a decision about your ability to work will include:  education, past work experience, your residual function capacity, and as we just mentioned, your age. 

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