STEP 4 OF THE SEQUENTIAL DECISION MAKING PROCESS

At step 4 of Social Security's process to determine if you meet their rules for disability, they must consider whether you can perform any of your past work.  This determination is based strictly on whether you are physically and/or mentally able to do any of your past work.  Social Security will not consider such factors as

• whether you would actually be hired for one of your past jobs
• whether you still have a license or certificate to do that kind of work
• the fact that there no openings for that kind of work
• the fact that you no longer wish to do that type of work
• or that getting one of those jobs would require a relocation

 If Social Security finds that you are physically and mentally able to perform any one of your past relevant jobs, you will be found not disabled and denied benefits.  This is called a "Step 4 Denial."

The medical record is the key to proving that you are not able to perform past relevant work.  Social Security decisions must be made on "medically determinable impairments," that is, impairments that be proven by objective medical evidence.