Social Security Disability Claims Process: Physical Requirements

One of the major requirements in qualifying for Social Security disability benefits is not being able to perform the physical and skill requirements of your job due to a medical impairment. You will need the help of a Houston Social Security disability attorney to successfully prove this inability on your Social Security disability application.

Dictionary of Occupations Titles

The Social Security Administration (SSA) relies on the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) in evaluating whether a Social Security disability claimant is able to perform the physical requirements of his or her previous employment given their physical or mental impairment. Originally, the DOT was used as a job placement tool. But the SSA has since transformed it into one of the most important tools utilized in the disability claims process.

Your Houston Social Security disability attorney will guide you in understanding how the SSA uses the DOT in evaluating claims. This is imperative in successfully providing the SSA with the information it needs to determine that you are no longer able to perform the same skills at your job given the limitations of your medical condition.

Categories of the DOT

The DOT places jobs into one of five classifications, depending on how much physical exertion is required for each job. Each one of these five categories has specific requirements that describe exactly what a claimant can or cannot do in order to be deemed disabled to receive disability benefits.

• Below is a brief description of the five categories:
• 1. Sedentary work - lifting no more than 10 pounds with only occasional lifting and carrying of light weight items
• 2. Light work - lifting no more than 20 pounds and frequent carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds
• 3. Medium work - lifting no more than 50 pounds with frequently lifting or carrying objects weighing up to 25 pounds
• 4. Heavy work - lifting more than 100 pounds with frequent carrying or lifting of objects weighing up to 50 pounds
• 5. Very heavy work - lifting more than 100 pounds with frequent carrying or lifting of objects weighing more than 50 pounds

Call Us For More Information

To determine whether your disability prevents you from engaging in physical exertion as defined by the SSA, contact Houston Social Security disability attorney Dana Speer at 713-857-2123.

Dana Speer
713-857-2123 Direct Line
877-373-5105 Direct Fax