Social Security Updates Occupations List Used in Disability Evaluation Process
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: June 24, 2024
Social Security administers disability benefits through two programs: the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program.
While the agency’s disability decision process remains sound, it continually seeks improvements to ensure its disability programs remain current and to ease the burden on customers. In determining disability claims for adults, Social Security may have to evaluate whether a person can adjust to other work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy. To make this determination, the agency considers a person’s capacity to do work-related activities, as well as consider their age, education, and work experience.
When making a finding of “not disabled,” for the purpose of benefit eligibility the agency must support the finding with evidence that an individual can adjust to work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy. The agency uses the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) and its companion publication, the Selected Characteristics of Occupations Defined in the Revised Dictionary of Occupational Titles, as reliable sources of information about such work.
The agency has identified 114 DOT occupations with jobs that exist in very limited numbers, if at all, in each of the nine U.S. Census divisions of the country. Based on this finding, the agency will not use these occupations to support a “not disabled” finding at the last step in the evaluation process for disability determinations.
The agency also identified 13 DOT occupations where federal courts have questioned supporting evidence of a “not disabled” finding. The agency is implementing additional evidence requirements for these occupations.
“It makes sense to identify occupations that now exist in very limited numbers in the national economy,” said Martin O’Malley, Commissioner of Social Security. “By making this update, our decision makers will no longer cite these jobs when denying a disability application.”
On June 22, 2024, the agency published new public guidance and instructions about these changes. The agency anticipates that, as a result, it will only consider the most relevant occupations when determining if someone applying for disability benefits could perform other types of work.
In the longer term, Social Security continues to analyze data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Requirements Survey, which will inform future updates.
These changes add to a growing list of policy updates that Social Security is publishing to improve its disability programs.
For example, the agency recently announced it will reduce barriers to access the SSI program by updating the definition of a public assistance household (read our press release). The agency also announced it will exclude the value of food from SSI benefit calculations (read our press release).
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Tags: Disability, Social Security benefits, SSI, supplemental security income
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Estepahnia
Thank You For Never giving Up On Any of Us Gby All !!!!! It’s like A Dream Come True !!!!
Thank you !!!!!!!! 🥲🥲🥹🥹🙏🙏🙏😇😇😇😇
Tarea K.
I have been disabled for five years, but yet they won’t give me SSD, because I’m one credit short of my hours that I paid into why is that when the doctor has put me down as disabled
T.Y.
Hello, Tarea. Your earnings and work history are used to determine your eligibility for Social Security benefits. You cannot receive benefits if you do not have enough credits. Visit the Benefits Planner | Social Security Credits and Benefit Eligibility | SSA for more information. We hope this information is helpful.
Teresa C.
But those who NEVER paid into ssi and aren’t citizens can get ssi… Please enlighten me how that’s possible.
Good c.
Yes please reply to her question. Why are illegals getting assistance and she can’t. We will wait.
Quacy M.
i spend so much snap food money at my local ideal food basket in canarsie brooklyn 11236 up the block from my house that i practically own it. Occupations of the food worker is they are disrespectful for my money that i pay them with. the location of the food store and pharmacy is good but not the rest of the Occupations. they just want to kick people off of the two good Occupations there
Danna T.
I want to know all about survivors benefits
S.S.
Hello, Donna. You can find more information on our Survivor Benefits page. We hope this information helps.
Susan M.
I’m 66 y.o., I have been receiving my pre-retirement at 62. Can I request for full retirement. Also how do we get a job at our age to supplement are retirement. Business won’t hire you because your a liability just by the age. So how can I add to my retirement whith my age
S.S.
Hi, Susan. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. There are advantages and disadvantages to taking your benefit before your full retirement age. The advantage is that you collect benefits for a longer period of time. The disadvantage is your benefit is usually permanently reduced. You will get annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) and, depending on your work history, you may receive higher benefits if you continue to work. To learn more, read our blog, Three Common Ways Your Social Security Payment Can Grow After Retirement. We hope this helps.
Karen
I would love to know why I was told that it will take at least 5 years for a decision and so what do I do for that 5years. And why is it impossible to report fraud I can name 6 people by name that are not disabled in any way but have SS convinced they are they lay on their butts and do drugs and get their money and 4 of them brag they have never had to have a job. But when I tried reporting them I was told I have to have name dob and SS number now. Really I had name age and address but same lady that told me 5 years also said no one really goes after them anymore
Michael W.
If a person is SSD all ready would the Administration identify a job that person can do other than their old job . Once the person take the new at a lower rate of pay , Would SSD make up the lost income
Karen
No
JeffAnderson
A well detailed article explaining the social security updates regarding disability evaluation process. I found it very informative especially regarding medical billing reimbursements.