The claimant is the primary source for vocational documentation, and statements by the claimant regarding past work are generally sufficient for determining the skill level, exertional demands, and non-exertional demands of such work. For development and follow-up requirements, see DI 22505.014.

If the claimant refuses or is unable to provide the necessary work history, the evidence is not available from a third party, and this evidence is material to the disability determination, deny the claim for insufficient evidence. For information on making a determination based on the evidence in file, see DI 23007.015.

Explain your determination in the personalized disability notice.

1. 1. 

   Compare the claimant’s RFC on a function-by-function basis with the physical and mental demands of their PRW.

2. 2. 

   Consider whether the claimant’s RFC permits PRW:

   • •

     as they performed it; or

   • •

     as generally performed in the national economy.

3. 3. 

   Perform the steps for comparison in the order you determine most expeditious based on the facts of the case. Stop once you identify PRW that the claimant can do.

4. 4. 

   Do not proceed to step 5 of sequential evaluation until you determine that the claimant cannot do any PRW as actually performed or as generally performed in the national economy.

In the rare case where a claimant has no “severe” impairment or combination of impairments, but the non-severe impairment prevents the ability to do PRW because of the unique features of the work, do not deny the claimant at step 2. Proceed through the sequential evaluation process.

Assess the claimant’s non-severe limitations or restrictions and make a function-by-function comparison of your assessment with the requirements of the claimant’s PRW.

At step 4, find that the claimant cannot do PRW unless they are capable of doing the work as generally performed in the national economy.

If the claimant cannot do PRW as they performed it or as generally performed in the national economy, proceed to step 5.

Do not consider the medical-vocational profiles when a non-severe impairment prevents PRW because of the unique feature(s) of the work. These profiles require a severe impairment. For information on medical-vocational profiles, see DI 25010.001.

Consider ability to adjust to other work using a framework of medical-vocational rule 204.00. For information on using rule 204.00 as a framework for a determination, see DI 25025.010.

EXAMPLE: The claimant is 60 years of age, has a 9^th grade education and 34 years of work at a printing factory. They have recently become severely allergic to the chemicals required to do this work. They are no longer able to do this work as they performed it or as generally performed in the national economy because of their allergy. Because the claimant has a non-severe impairment that prevents their PRW, they are not a denial at step 2. At step 5, they will be able to adjust to other work using a framework of medical-vocational rule 204.00.