DISABILILTY TERMS - WHAT DO THEY MEAN?
"Each profession speaks to itself in its own language," someone said. This is true of Social Security disability. When a group of Social Security attorneys, advocates, judges or case workers get together, it may sound like they are speaking a foreign language.
I thought it would be good to list and define a few of the terms and definitions that we hear in Social Security lingo. So here goes:
Some basic disability terms and what they mean
Alleged Onset Date or AOD - the date at which the claimant says he/she first became disabled. This need not be the date of the disability application, but may be an earlier date.
Amended Onset Date - This is a change of the date in which the claimant alleges to have first become disabled.
Established Onset Date - is the date Social Security finds an individual to have first become disabled. It may be the same as the alleged onset date, or it may be different.
Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) - the maximum exertional ability to perform work related activity even with the limitations that are imposed due to an impairment. RFC may be categorized (from easiest to most difficult) as: sedentary, light, medium, heavy, very heavy.
exertional limitations: limitations of the work activities of sitting, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling are considered "exertional activities."
non-exertional limitations - are limitations in all other work related activities except the 7 functions named under exertional functions. Non-exertional functions, for example, might include the ability to concentrate, understand, remember and follow simple instructions or respond appropriately to supervision. Exertional activity is usually thought of as a physical activity which uses the limbs or body to perform. Non-exertional activity includes, but is not limited to mental functions.
limited education - refers to having completed anywhere between the 7th and 11th grades (but not a high school graduate).
marginal education - no more than a 6th grade education.
skilled work - work that requires a high level of judgment and skill to obtain the proper form, quality or quantity of material to be produced. Skilled work usually takes more than 6 months and up to several years to learn.
semi-skilled work - requires some judgment and more training than unskilled work, but does not require complex work duties. Coordination and dexterity are usually necessary. It takes about 3 to 6 months to learn most semi-skilled work.
unskilled work - involves simple duties with little or no judgment; unskilled work may be learned on the job in 30 days or less, sometimes merely by a brief demonstration.
Social Security also categorizes work according to the exertional demands required. The basic exertional levels of work are (from easiest to heaviest): sedentary, light, medium, heavy and very heavy. An individual with medical limitations might be able to perform sedentary or light work; whereas, the same individual might be unable to perform medium, heavy or very heavy work.
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To get help with your Social Security disability or SSI claim, please contact us at
THE FORSYTHE FIRM
7027 Old Madison Pike, Suite 108
Huntsville, AL 35806
PHONE (256) 799-0297
"When Social Security denies your disability claim there are 2 things you can do - give up or fight. We're here for those who won't give up."
I thought it would be good to list and define a few of the terms and definitions that we hear in Social Security lingo. So here goes:
Some basic disability terms and what they mean
Alleged Onset Date or AOD - the date at which the claimant says he/she first became disabled. This need not be the date of the disability application, but may be an earlier date.
Amended Onset Date - This is a change of the date in which the claimant alleges to have first become disabled.
Established Onset Date - is the date Social Security finds an individual to have first become disabled. It may be the same as the alleged onset date, or it may be different.
Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) - the maximum exertional ability to perform work related activity even with the limitations that are imposed due to an impairment. RFC may be categorized (from easiest to most difficult) as: sedentary, light, medium, heavy, very heavy.
exertional limitations: limitations of the work activities of sitting, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling are considered "exertional activities."
non-exertional limitations - are limitations in all other work related activities except the 7 functions named under exertional functions. Non-exertional functions, for example, might include the ability to concentrate, understand, remember and follow simple instructions or respond appropriately to supervision. Exertional activity is usually thought of as a physical activity which uses the limbs or body to perform. Non-exertional activity includes, but is not limited to mental functions.
limited education - refers to having completed anywhere between the 7th and 11th grades (but not a high school graduate).
marginal education - no more than a 6th grade education.
skilled work - work that requires a high level of judgment and skill to obtain the proper form, quality or quantity of material to be produced. Skilled work usually takes more than 6 months and up to several years to learn.
semi-skilled work - requires some judgment and more training than unskilled work, but does not require complex work duties. Coordination and dexterity are usually necessary. It takes about 3 to 6 months to learn most semi-skilled work.
unskilled work - involves simple duties with little or no judgment; unskilled work may be learned on the job in 30 days or less, sometimes merely by a brief demonstration.
Social Security also categorizes work according to the exertional demands required. The basic exertional levels of work are (from easiest to heaviest): sedentary, light, medium, heavy and very heavy. An individual with medical limitations might be able to perform sedentary or light work; whereas, the same individual might be unable to perform medium, heavy or very heavy work.
----------------------
To get help with your Social Security disability or SSI claim, please contact us at
THE FORSYTHE FIRM
7027 Old Madison Pike, Suite 108
Huntsville, AL 35806
PHONE (256) 799-0297
"When Social Security denies your disability claim there are 2 things you can do - give up or fight. We're here for those who won't give up."
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