Disability Determination -- Sequential Evaluation

A general overview of SSI and SSDI disability benefits. Note:  the pdf is almost 130 pages.

Listings appear in regulations at 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 416.925 explaining listing of impairments.

Plaintiff is a 49 year old immigrant from Cuba with HS education, some training as a nursing assistant and past relevant work as a caretaker and event worker.  The Plaintiff applied for SSI benefits alleging disability since January of 2005 based on limitations related to her stroke, hypertension,…

The panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court’s judgment affirming the SSA’s denial of claimant’s SSI application.  At step III, a claimant establishes a disability if he meets or equals a listed impairment.  The…

A reversal was appropriate where an ALJ failed to make specifics findings about the plaintiff's past relevant work as it was performed by the plaintiff and failed to compare the plaintiff's RFC to the specific exertional demands of his past relevant work. At step four of the sequential…

SSA Medical Expert handbook provides the basic information for medical providers who agree to participate in administrative law judge hearings.  The handbook explains Social Security’s disability programs, the appeals process, and ME's role and responsibilities.

Remanded for an Award of Benefits The Appeals Court held that the ALJ failed to give controlling weight to the opinion of the claimant's treating physician where the treating physician's opinion was not inconsistent with the medical record as a whole. If the treating physician's…

Step 4 and step 5.

Step 5. Grids.

Step 4.

This manual is a guide to documenting medical impairments in support of applications for the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) disability benefits programs. It is primarily intended for health care providers in the United States serving individuals with disabilities who are homeless or…

Pdf version attached.  Text version online.

Step 4.  Pdf version attached.  Text version online.

Leading 1st Circuit SSI/SSDI case discussing the severity standard at step 2 of the sequesntial evaluation process.

SSR 96-8pEFFECTIVE/PUBLICATION DATE: 07/02/96SSR 96-8p: POLICY INTERPRETATION RULING TITLES II AND XVI: ASSESSING RESIDUAL FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY IN INITIAL CLAIMS PURPOSE: To state the Social Security Administration's policies and policy interpretations regarding the assessment of residual functional…

Supreme Court decision dealing with 12-month duration requirement for SSI and SSDI eligibility and entitlement to trial work period. Agency's construction of statute was permissible, and made considerable sense in terms of the statute's basic objectives. In addition, the agency's regulations…

Although plaintiff has several impairments, court holds that there was considerable evidence in the record that he was able to work with these problems for many years. Further, plaintiff's mental impairment is found to be non-severe, although it moderately restricts five out of ten basic…