Social Security uses a five stop process to determine whether or not someone is disabled. Below is the five-step sequential process Social Security Administration uses to determine disability.
Step One – The first step in the sequential evaluation is determining whether or not you are working. You are only eligible for Social Security Disability Income benefits or Supplemental Security Income benefits if you are not working, or you are working but earning under the amount set for Substantial Gainful Activity. If you are working or earning too much money, and you fail at step one, the process does not continue.
Step Two – The second step is proving your impairments are severe. This means they interfere with basic work-related activities and have lasted for a minimum period of 12 months.
Step Three – Most people do not meet step three, which is meeting or equaling a listing. Listings are specific criteria laid out by the Social Security Administration.
Step Four – Step four is proving you cannot return to any of the work you have done in the past 5 years.
Step Five – Step Five is proving you cannot do any OTHER work in the national economy.
