When looking at your ability to work Social Security evaluates exertional levels. Exertional Level (Level of Exertion) is a work classification defining the functional requirements of work, in terms of the primary strength that activities require. The exertional levels consist of sedentary, light and medium, and heavy and extra heavy exertional levels. Social Security looks at your ability to walk, stand, sit, lift/carry, push and pull. After Social Security makes a finding on your exertional level they will then look at your age, education, and past work which will direct a finding of disabled or not disabled.
Sedentary exertional level is defined as being able to lift ten pounds occasionally and less than ten pounds frequently. You must be able to sit six out of eight hours per day with occasional walking and standing.
Light exertional level allows for twenty pounds weight lifted occasionally (1/3 of the day) and ten pounds frequently (2/3 of the day). A person must be able to use their feet and hands to move machinery as well as walk six hours out of eight hours per day.
Medium exertional level is the ability to lift up to fifty pounds occasionally and twenty-five pounds frequently and walk, stand, lift, and carry.
Social Security looks at your past work and determines which of these levels best describe what you did at work. This is the reason a person must fill out the Work History Report completely. It is necessary to describe the job you did as you actually did it. If you don’t describe your job, then Social Security will assume you did the job as it is defined by the Dictionary of Occupational Titles.
According to the SSA Code of Federal Regulations § 404.1569a. Exertional and nonexertional limitations. “When your limitations and restrictions imposed by your impairment(s) and related symptoms, such as pain, affect only your ability to meet the strength demands of jobs (sitting, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling), we consider that you have only exertional limitations.” This is a part of the determination process Social Security uses to verify if you are disabled.
If you are fifty years old or above, you may not be able to return to your previous job or jobs. Social Security will look at your prior fifteen years of work history and determine if you can do any of your past jobs. Then they will look to see if you have the ability to use any of your learned skills for any other job in the national economy. Exertional levels is just one area Social Security considers when determining if you are disabled or not.
We always recommend you have assistance in completing the Work History Report that is sent to every person who applies for Social Security Disability. It is important that you include details that the adjudicator at Social Security may not know about your particular job. Getting assistance with completing this report will help you define the work you did.
Please feel free to contact me at Patty@mpes.net or 866-686-7556 with any questions.
Information for this blog: SSA Exertional and nonexertional limitations
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