What Does the Disability Claims Examiner Look For?

After completing your initial application for social security benefits, your claim is sent to the Disability Determination Services office in your state. The Disability Claims examiner will review your application to determine if you are eligible for social security disability insurance or supplemental security income.

Five Step Process

The Disability Claims Examiner applies a five-step process to determine disability.  This process set out in federal rules and regulations.  Actions by the Disability Determination Services office are subject to appeal.  The steps in the process are:

• Are you working - If you are working and your earnings average more than a certain amount each month, you will generally not be considered disabled. 
• Is your medical condition “severe”?  - Your medical condition must significantly limit your ability to do basic work activities—such as walking, sitting, and remembering—for at least one year. 
• Is your medical condition on the List of Impairments:  conditions on this list are considered so severe that they automatically mean that you are disabled as defined by law.  If the severity of your medical condition or combination of conditions meets or equals that of a listed impairment, the state agency will decide that you are disabled. 
• Can you do the work you did before?  At this step, the state agency decides if your medical condition prevents you from being able to do the work you did before.  If yes, you qualify, if not you go to the last step.
• Can you do any other type of work?  The agency evaluates your medical condition, your age, education, past work experience and any skills you may have that could be used to do other work.  If you cannot do other work, the state agency will decide that you are disabled.

Get Legal Help

Social Security rules and regulations can be complicated for the layperson.  You will have a much better chance of a successful claim if you seek competent legal counsel.