Grid Rules Another Way To Win

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If you graduated high school and recently completed a post - secondary training program your education level is a high school level is a high graduate or more with training for skilled  work.  For example,  in one case a 55 year old woman with 

Social Security  looks at the work  you've done over the last five years--any jobs you held for the at least  30 days in the last five years are called  your "past relevant work." If you don't have any past relevant work. Social Security could find disabled under the grid, depending on your RFC.

Social Security will  also look  at your past relevant work to determine whether you have job skills.  For the grid, the SSA classifies jobs as skilled, unskilled,  and semi-skilled. Applicants with a history of unskilled work are likely to be found disabled under the grids.

The SSA will classify your past jobs bases on how you describe them and how the Department of Labor (DOL) classifies them. An skilled job , for example  might be a sorter Ina factory. An example of a semi-skilled worker job is a waitress. An example of skilled job is a paralegal. To determine the job skill level,  the DOL considers factors such as how long it takes to learn a job and whether the job requires specialized education. 

If past work was skilled or semi-skilled, the SSA will consider whether you learned any skilled that could be used in another position (called transferable skills).  The more transferable  skills you have, the more the more likely  it is that the SSA  will say  there is other work  you can do, and the  harder it is to win your disability claim.

Note that even though a job may be classified as skilled,  the skills learned in that job may best specific that you can't use them in another position (for example,  sample, seamstress work). The SSA  won't classify skills like these as transferable. 

Your residual functional capacity (RFC) is your remaining ability to do work on a regular and sustained basis ( full-time).  The SSA will  use the objective medical evidence you or your doctor has submitted to do a detailed assessment of your ability to do certain job-related activities like standing, walking, lifting, carrying, and pushing. The SSA will give you an RFC for:

* sedentary work

* light work 

* medium 

* heavy work,  or

* very heavy work.

Generally,  the higher (heavier) your RFC, the more difficult it be to get approved  under the grids.

Education.               Skill Level.                                                                       Decision 

Limited or less       Unskilled or more.                                                           Disabled 

Limited  or less.     Skilled  or semi-skilled, skills not.                                 Disabled 

                                 transferable.                                          

Limited or less.     Skilled or semi-skilled,  skills.                                  Not disabled 

                                 transferable 

Education.                                            Skill Level.                                            DECISION 

HIGH school graduate or.                 Unskilled  or none.                                Disabled 

more- no training for direct 

entry into skilled work

High school graduate or.                  Unskilled or none.                                Not disabled 

more, with training for.                       

direct entry into skilled

Work

High school graduate or.                 Skilled  or semi-skilled,  skills not.            Disabled                

more but no training for.                  transferable 

direct entry into skilled 

Work

High school graduate or.                Skilled or semiskilled, skills                      Not disabled 

more, but no training for 

direct entry into skilled 

Work 

High  school graduate or.                Skilled or semi-skilled,  skills not              Not disabled 

More, with  training  for.                   transferable 

direct entry into skilled work

                                                                                Skill Level.                                                         Deacon 

Illiterate.                                                                 Unskilled or none.                                            Disabled 

Limited  or less.                                                    Unskilled or none.                                             Not Disabled 

Limited or less                                                      Skilled or semiskilled, skills                           Not disabled

                                                                                 transferable 

Limited or less.                                                     Skilled or semiskilled,  skills                          Not disabled 

                                                                                 transferable 

High school graduate or                                      Unskilled or none.                                               Not disabled 

more.                                                                       

High school graduate or.                                     Skilled or semiskilled,  skills  not                      Not disabled 

more,                                                                       transferable 

High school graduate or                                      Skilled or semiskilled,  skills                              Not disabled 

more.                                                                       transferable 

We offer a free consultation to all potential clients. During the consultation, we will discuss your case and provide you with a clear understanding of what to expect throughout the process.

We understand that financial hardship can make it difficult to hire an attorney. That's why we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don't pay anything unless we win your case.

If you need help with a Social Security law matter, don't hesitate to contact us today. Our experienced team is ready to help you get the benefits you deserve.