Always consider whether a profile applies before referring to the medical-vocational guidelines at Step 5 of sequential evaluation.

For more information on medical profiles and medical guidelines, see:

DI 25010.001 Special Medical-Vocational Profiles

DI 25025.005 - Using the Medical-Vocational Guidelines

IMPORTANT: In order to meet special medical-vocational profile you must first establish that the claimant is not capable of doing any PRW either as he or she performed it or as generally performed in the national economy.

Prior to proposing a medical-vocational allowance, you must have sufficient information and evidence to:

1. 1. 

   Rule out ability to do all past PRW both as the claimant did the work and as generally performed in the national economy.

2. 2. 

   Find either PRW does not meet the relevancy requirements; or, is beyond the claimant’s residual functional capacity (RFC) – both as the claimant describes the demands, and as workers generally perform the occupation in the national economy.

3. 3. 

   Complete a transferability of skills analysis at step 5 of sequential evaluation if the claimant’s PRW was skilled or semiskilled; and, the claimant is capable of performing more than unskilled work.

4. 4. 

   Complete a direct entry analysis if the claimant:

   • •

     has at least a high school education,

   • •

     received recent additional training that could provide for direct entry into skilled or semiskilled work, and

   • •

     is capable of performing more than unskilled work

For more information on past relevant work, see:

DI 25005.020 Past Relevant Work (PRW) as the Claimant Performed It

DI 25005.025 Past Relevant Work (PRW) as Generally Performed in the National Economy

DI 25015.010F Education that provides for direct entry into skilled or semiskilled work

DI 25015.017 Transferability of Skills Assessment (TSA)