The Social Security Administration (SSA) will consider several factors in evaluating your claim for disability benefits. One of them is the skill level involved with your previous employment. So you might be wondering how your job skill level will affect social security disability. The SSA’s goal is to determine what impact your disability has on your ability to work at the same level. If you’re applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), talk to a Mobile, AL disability benefits attorney today.
The SSA will classify your past employment into one of three job skill level which will affect your social security disability: skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled.
Unskilled. This type of work requires little if any exercise of judgment on the part of the employee. Physical strength, manual labor, and coordination are often part of the job. Unskilled work can be learned in a short time period. However, the worker does not acquire skills that can be transferred to another line of work. Common examples of unskilled work include fast food jobs and clerks.
Semi-skilled. These jobs require more attention to detail than unskilled work, but they don’t require extensive education or training. A semi-skilled worker will sometimes need coordination and dexterity to perform his or her job. Semi-skilled jobs can be learned in about three to six months. Examples include retail sales and nurse’s assistant.
Skilled. This category includes some of the most complex jobs. The use of judgment is a major part of providing a service or creating a product. In addition, a skilled worker will often think abstractly, use reason, and make decisions. Educational qualifications such as degrees, licenses, and certifications are common among skilled jobs. Teachers and engineers are considered skilled employees.
A Mobile, AL disability benefits attorney can help you determine which category your job falls into. The categorization is important because it directly affects your eligibility for benefits. The SSA must determine whether you are completely disabled due to your medical condition. An essential question is whether your job skills enable you to work in another field. Although you might not be able to work the same job, there may be less demanding work you could perform. Higher skilled workers may find it difficult to qualify for SSDI benefits. The reason is that there may be less skilled work they could do despite their disabilities.
If you’re unable to perform a new job because of your condition, the SSA will approve your SSDI benefits application. But you will be denied benefits if you can be trained for and obtain a new job. For this reason, it’s critical to accurately describe your past work when applying for SSDI. Talk to a Mobile, AL Social Security disability benefits attorney for help in doing this.
After you apply for benefits, the SSA reviews your medical records to determine if there is evidence of your condition. Make sure your records are up to date with information about your injury or illness. Next, the SSA will make a decision about what, if any, effect your condition has on your ability to work.
Your medical records enable the SSA to assign you a rating known as Residual Functional Capacity (RFC). The RFC is basically the level of physical exertion of which you are capable, in light of your disability. Your RFC will fall into one of the following:
- Sedentary
- Light
- Medium
- Heavy
- Very heavy
The objective of this analysis is to determine what level of work a disabled individual can do. Many disabilities impose physical limitations such as inability to lift over a certain weight. However, you could be able to perform less physically demanding work. For example, a disabled worker who cannot stand for extended periods of time may be able to do desk work. Your Mobile, AL disability benefits attorney can explain the different RFC levels and how they impact your SSDI determination.
We Fight for the Disability Benefits You Deserve
Before you apply for SSDI, learn what the rules are and how they apply to your case. If you’ve already been denied benefits, you have the right to appeal your decision. Wherever you are in the claims process, the attorneys of Ascend Disability Lawyers, LLC can help.
