Adjustment of the lens of the eye to bring an object into sharp focus.

Refers to chronological age and the extent to which it affects a claimant’s ability to adjust to other work. A claimant reaches a particular age the day before their birthday. There are three age categories and two age subcategories. For detailed information on age as a vocational factor, see DI 25015.005.

The medical-vocational rules use the subcategory “younger individual age 45-49” in the sedentary medical-vocational table and “closely approaching retirement age” in the medium medical-vocational table. For the medical-vocational guidelines, see DI 25025.035.

The age categories and subcategories are:

1. a. 

   Age categories

   1. 1. 

      Younger - under age 50

   2. 2. 

      Closely approaching advanced age - age 50-54

   3. 3. 

      Advanced age - age 55 or over

   For more information on age categories see DI 25015.005D.

2. b. 

   Age subcategories

   1. 1. 

      Younger individual age 45-49; and

   2. 2. 

      Closely approaching retirement age - age 60 or older.

Physical work requiring a high level of strength or endurance. Arduous work does not have to involve any specific physical action or exertional level. Work that we would not classify as heavy or very heavy may still be considered arduous if, for example, it requires a great deal of stamina or if it involves activity such as repetitive bending and lifting at a very fast pace. For additional information on arduous work, see DI 25010.001B.1.

An environmental factor, rated in the SCO, meaning exposure to conditions that affect the respiratory system, eyes, or the skin, such as:

• •

  fumes,

• •

  noxious odors,

• •

  dusts,

• •

  mists,

• •

  gases, and

• •

  poor ventilation.

Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing, crouching, or running on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces or while performing gymnastic feats.

NOTE: Difficulties maintaining balance on dry, flat, stationary surfaces or maintaining body equilibrium for walking or standing should be addressed in the exertional portion of the RFC under “standing and walking” and under the discussion about the medical need for use of a hand-held assistive device. Using the SCO definition of the nonexertional factor “balancing (Ba)” there are 11,845 occupations in the DOT in which “balancing” is rated not present.

Examples of occupations requiring:

• •

  constant balancing would be Net Fisher, Railroad Cook, Wire Walker, Acrobat.

• •

  frequent balancing would be Acrobatic Rigger, Electric Power Line Examiner, and Street Light Cleaner.

For information on how to apply borderline age policy, see DI 25015.006.

A borderline age issue exists when the claimant

• •

  is a few days to a few months from attaining the next higher age category;

• •

  use of the higher age category results in a finding of “disabled”; and

• •

  use of the chronological age category results in a finding of “not disabled.”

Transporting an object; usually holding it in the hands or arms or on the shoulder.

Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles, ropes, and the like, using the feet and legs or hands and arms.

Ability to identify and distinguish colors.

Work that required significant elements of two or more DOT occupations and that has no counterpart in the DOT. For information on how to determine whether work was a composite job and how to consider a composite job, or other work that has no counterpart in the DOT, at step four of sequential evaluation, see DI 25005.020B.

Use of this term in the RFC or SCO means that the activity or condition occurs for two-thirds or more of an eight-hour day.

Moving about on the hands and knees or hands and feet.

Bending the body downward and forward by bending the legs and spine.

Ability to judge distances and spatial relationships to see objects where and as they actually are in three-dimensional vision.

A DOT code is comprised of nine numbers subdivided into three sets containing three numbers. In the DOT classification system, each digit has a specific purpose or meaning. Together, these nine numbers provide a unique code that distinguishes an individual occupation from all others listed in the DOT.

The following table identifies the various code numbers used in the middle three digits (also known as the worker function codes) of a DOT code. The worker function codes consist of data function (fourth digit), people function (fifth digit), and things function (sixth digit).

Formal schooling or other training that contributes to the ability to meet vocational requirements (for example, reasoning ability, communication skills, and arithmetical ability). For additional information on education as a vocational factor, see DI 25015.010.

We classify education into five adjudicative categories:

1. 1. 

   Illiterate:

   • •

     The inability to read in any language,

   • •

     The inability to write in any language, or

   • •

     The inability to read and write in any language

   NOTE: Regardless of formal education level, use this category for claimants who cannot read or write a simple message, such as instructions or inventory lists, in any language.

2. 2. 

   Marginal education

   Formal schooling completed at the sixth grade level or less.

3. 3. 

   Limited education

   Formal schooling completed at the seventh through 11^th grade level.

4. 4. 

   High school education or above

   Formal schooling completed at the 12^th grade level and above. We usually consider a GED certificate to be in this category.

5. 5. 

   Recent education that provides for direct entry into skilled or semiskilled work

   For additional information on how to determine whether recent education or training provides for direct entry into skilled or semiskilled work, see DI 25015.010F.

Conditions that may exist in work environments such as extremes in temperature, humidity, noise, vibrations, fumes, odors, presence of toxic substances, dusts, poor ventilation, or hazards.

An impairment-related inability to tolerate exposure to one or more environmental conditions in a workplace. For additional information on environmental limitations, see DI 25020.015.

One of the primary strength activities:

• •

  sitting,

• •

  standing,

• •

  walking,

• •

  lifting,

• •

  carrying,

• •

  pushing, and

• •

  pulling.

A work classification defining the functional requirements of work in terms of the range of the primary strength activities required (that is, sedentary, light, medium, heavy, and very heavy).

The following table details the limits within the ranges for occasional, frequent, and constant exertion:

*=Negligible Weight; N/A= Not applicable

NOTE: Do not use this information to determine remaining occupational base. Do not determine that a claimant has a remaining occupational base for medium work if they can lift 20 pounds occasionally and 10 pounds frequently or if they can lift 25 pounds occasionally and 10 pounds frequently.

A claimant must be capable of doing substantially all of the range of work represented by the exertional requirements of an Appendix 2 rule for that rule to direct a determination of disability. For that reason, assume that an RFC for less than the top level of weight for an exertional level in the exertional level table represents an RFC falling between two exertional levels of work. For information on how to adjudicate a case in which the RFC falls between two rules, see DI 25025.015.

IMPORTANT: The chart of lifting and carrying requirements is from Appendix C: Components of the Definition Trailer, Component IV. PHYSICAL DEMANDS - STRENGTH RATING (Strength); and reflects how Department of Labor analysts classified jobs into a particular strength level.

Per 20 CFR 404.1567 and 416.967, SSA uses the strength classifications that are in the DOT.

An impairment-related limitation that reduces the capacity to sit, stand, walk, lift, carry, push, or pull.

An environmental factor rated in the SCO, meaning exposure to outside atmospheric conditions.

An environmental factor rated in the SCO, meaning possible bodily injury from electrical shock.

An environmental factor rated in the SCO, meaning possible bodily injury from radiation.

An environmental factor rated in the SCO, meaning possible bodily injury from toxic or caustic chemicals.

An environmental factor rated in the SCO, meaning exposure to nonweather-related cold temperatures.

An environmental factor rated in the SCO, meaning exposure to nonweather-related hot temperatures.

Clarity of vision at 20 feet or more.

Perceiving attributes of objects and materials such as size, shape, temperature, or texture, by means of receptors in the skin, particularly those of the fingertips.

The entire area that can be seen when the eye is directed forward, including that which is seen with peripheral vision.

Picking, pinching, or otherwise working with the fingers primarily (rather than with the whole hand or arm as in “handling”).

A medical-vocational determination that uses the Appendix 2 rule as adjudicative guidance because the RFC or a vocational factor does not match an Appendix 2 rule. The RFC and vocational factors of age, education, and past work experience must meet all the rule criteria to direct a determination. For additional information on using the medical vocational rules as a framework for a determination, see DI 25025.005C.

Use of this term in the SCO or RFC means that the activity or condition occurs one-third to two-thirds of an 8-hour workday.

The following chart describes the absence or presence of physical demand and environmental condition components:

All or substantially all of the unskilled occupations existing at an exertional level.

Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with the hand or hands. Fingers are involved only to the extent that they are an extension of the hand (rather than as in “fingering”).

Perceiving the nature of sounds by ear.

Heavy work involves lifting no more than 100 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 50 pounds. For the range of lifting and carrying requirements the Department of Labor considered when determining whether to classify work as heavy, see DI 25001.001A.20, in this section.

Heavy work:

• •

  Requires walking or standing for a significant part of the day.

• •

  Usually requires frequent to constant stooping and crouching.

• •

  Usually involves grasping, holding, and turning objects, but does not require use of the fingers for fine activities to the extent required in most sedentary work.

• •

  Usually includes the functional capacity to perform medium, light, and sedentary work.

A position within a work site with significant tasks. Workers may perform the significant tasks slightly differently at different work sites.

Example of work site differences: A server at one restaurant may take orders and check to make sure everything is satisfactory while an assistant carries the food to the table. A server at another restaurant may be required to both take the order and carry the food to the table.

Bending the legs at the knees to come to rest on the knee or knees.

For complete information on the lifetime commitment profile, see DI 25010.001B.3.

A lifetime commitment requires 30 years or more of work in one field. Work does not have to have been at only one job or for only one employer, but jobs must have been in one field of work, meaning that the types of work the individual performed must have been very similar to one another.

Raising or lowering an object from one level to another. Includes upward pulling.

Light work involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. Even though the weight lifted may be very little, a job is in this category when it requires a good deal of walking or standing, or when it involves sitting most of the time with some pushing and pulling of arm or leg controls.

The Department of Labor rated an occupation as light when it requires walking or standing to a significant degree, sitting most of the time while pushing or pulling arm or leg controls, or working at a production rate while constantly pushing or pulling materials even though the weight of the materials in these situations is negligible. For the range of lifting and carrying requirements the DOL considered when determining whether to classify work as light, see DI 25001.001A.20, in this section.

Light work usually

• •

  requires walking or standing for approximately six hours of the day.

• •

  requires only occasional, rather than frequent, stooping and no crouching.

• •

  involves grasping, holding, and turning objects, but does not require use of the fingers for fine activities to the extent required in most sedentary work.

• •

  includes the functional capacity to perform sedentary work.

• •

  performed primarily in one location with the ability to stand being more critical than the ability to walk.

A discrepancy that affects the ultimate decision of “disabled” or “not disabled.”

The highest functional level at which a person can perform on a regular and continuing basis.

Unfavorable combinations of vocational factors that adjudicators must consider before applying the medical vocational rules.

Find a claimant who cannot do past relevant work and meets a profile unable to adjust to other work. For a listing of the profiles, see DI 25010.001.

Medium work involves lifting no more than 50 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds. If someone can do medium work, we determine that they can also do sedentary and light work. For the range of lifting and carrying requirements the Department of Labor considered when determining whether to classify work as medium, see DI 25001.001A.20, in this section

Medium work usually

• •

  requires walking or standing for approximately six hours of the day.

• •

  requires frequent stooping and crouching.

• •

  requires the ability to grasp, hold, and turn objects.

• •

  requires the ability to frequently lift or carry objects weighing up to 25 pounds, which is often more critical than being able to lift up to 50 pounds at a time.

• •

  includes the functional capacity to perform sedentary and light work.

NOTE: There are very few medium occupations in the national economy performed primarily in a seated position.

Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less.

An RFC rating that means not even once during an eight-hour workday.

A rating in the SCO based on the following coding system:

No relevant work experience. For the definition of relevant work experience, see DI 25001.001A.60, in this section.

An impairment-caused limitation on a work activity that is not one of the seven strength factors (that is, lifting, carrying, standing, walking, sitting, pushing, and pulling).

Use of this rating in the SCO means that the activity or condition does not exist.

Use of this term in the SCO or RFC means that the activity or condition occurs at least once up to one-third of an eight-hour workday.

A group of jobs in many different worksites with a common set of tasks. In order to look at the millions of jobs in the U.S. economy in an organized way, the DOT groups jobs into "occupations" based on their similarities and defines the structure and content of each listed occupation. Occupational definitions are the result of comprehensive studies of how workers performed similar jobs in worksites across the nation and are composites of data collected from diverse sources. The DOT organizes work in a variety of ways. Nearly every job in the economy is performed slightly differently from any other job due to technological, economic, and sociological influences. Every job is also similar to a number of other jobs within the same occupation.

The term "occupation," as used in the DOT, refers to this collective description of a number of individual jobs performed, with minor variations, in many establishments.

There are seven basic parts to an occupational definition. The following list displays the parts in the order they appear in every definition:

1. a. 

   The Occupational Code Number

2. b. 

   The Occupational Title

3. c. 

   The Industry Designation

4. d. 

   Alternate Titles (if any)

5. e. 

   The Body of the Definition

   1. 1. 

      Lead Statement

   2. 2. 

      Task Element Statements

   3. 3. 

      “May” Items

   4. 4. 

      Glossary words

   5. 5. 

      Unbracketed Reference Title

   6. 6. 

      Bracketed Title

6. f. 

   Undefined Related Titles (if any)

7. g. 

   Definition Trailer

The number of unskilled occupations that a claimant is capable of performing. If a claimant has transferable skills or recent education allowing for direct entry into skilled work, the claimant may have some skilled and semiskilled occupations in their occupational base. For additional information on occupational base, see DI 25025.001.

Occupational code numbers use the following format:

1. a. 

   The first three digits of a code number identify the occupational group:

   • •

     The first digit identifies one of nine broad categories.

   • •

     The categories are divided into 83 more specific divisions (the first two digits).

   • •

     The divisions are then divided into small groups (the first three digits). The DOT identifies 564 groups.

2. b. 

   The middle three digits of the occupational code address the worker functions. For a list of the middle three-digit designations, see DI 25001.001A.15, in this section.

3. c. 

   The last three digits differentiate a particular occupation from all others:

   • •

     When a six-digit code is applicable to only one occupation, the final three digits are always 010.

   • •

     When there is more than one occupation with the same first six digits, the final three are usually assigned at intervals of four, starting with 010, as in the following example: 010, 014, 018, and 022.

An environmental factor rating in the SCO used to capture uncategorized environmental conditions. These conditions may include:

• •

  Demolishing parts of buildings to reach and combat fires and rescue persons endangered by fire and smoke;

• •

  Mining ore or coal underground;

• •

  Patrolling assigned beat to prevent crime or disturbance of peace and subjected to bodily injury or death from law violators;

• •

  Diving in the ocean and subjected to the bends or other conditions associated with high water pressure and oxygen deprivation; and

• •

  Patrolling ski slopes prior to allowing public use and exposed to danger of avalanches.

Work other than a claimant’s past relevant work.

Work that

• •

  was performed by the claimant within the relevant work period. (For the relevant work period chart, see DI 25001.001A.65, in this section) ;

• •

  was substantial gainful activity (SGA);

• •

  was not started and stopped by the claimant in fewer than 30 calendar days; and

• •

  lasted long enough for the claimant to learn to do it.

  Concerning this last factor, the time should have been sufficient for the claimant to:

  1. a. 

     learn the techniques;

  2. b. 

     acquire the necessary information; and

  3. c. 

     develop the competence needed for average performance in the job situation.

See also:

DI 25005.001 Determination of Capacity for Past Relevant Work (PRW) --Basics of Step 4 of the Sequential Evaluation Process

DI 25005.005 Expedited Vocational Assessment at Steps 4 and 5 of Sequential Evaluation

DI 25005.010 Whether Past Relevant Work Must Exist in Significant Numbers in the National Economy (SSR 05-1c)--U.S. Supreme Court Decision in the Case of Jo Anne B. Barnhart, Commissioner of Social Security v. Pauline Thomas

DI 25005.015 Determination of Capacity for Past Work-- Relevance Issues

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 25005.050 Making the Past Relevant Work (PRW) Determination

Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves toward the person exerting the force.

Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves away from the person exerting the force.

Occupations existing at an exertional level (that is sedentary, light, medium, heavy, and very heavy).

Extending the hands and arms in any direction.

When we can consider a period of the claimant’s past work as past relevant work (PRW).

This table provides the most common scenarios of the relevant work period:

* Indicates the date we adjudicate the claim at the initial, reconsideration, or administrative law judge levels or for Appeals Council decisions. The date of adjudication does not freeze at the initial determination but is the date of determination or decision at any level of review.

** We will not consider work performed during the current period of disability as PRW or as work experience for CDR cases per DI 28005.015A.7. However, SGA done during a current period of disability may prevent the application of collateral estoppel to allow a new claim (see DI 11011.001D.3). For additional information on collateral estoppel criteria, see DI 27515.001A.

*** For a closed period allowance relevant period ends 5 years after filing date.

The occupations that a claimant is capable of adjusting to considering the claimant’s RFC, age, education, and past work experience.

An administrative assessment of a claimant’s maximum remaining capacity for work on a sustained basis.

See details:

• •

  DI 24510.001 Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) Assessment - Introduction

• •

  DI 24510.005 General Guidelines for Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) Assessment

• •

  DI 24510.006 Assessing Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) in Initial Claims (SSR 96-8p)

• •

  DI 24510.010 Medical Source Statements About What Claimants Can Still Do

• •

  DI 24510.020 Projecting the RFC

• •

  DI 24510.050 Completion of the Physical RFC Assessment Form

• •

  DI 24510.055 Physical RFC Assessment Form SSA-4734-BK - Exhibit

• •

  DI 24510.057 Sustainability and the Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) Assessment

• •

  DI 24510.060 Mental Residual Functional Capacity Assessment

• •

  DI 24510.061 Summary Conclusions and Narrative Statement of Mental RFC

• •

  DI 24510.062 Completion of Heading of SSA-4734-F4-SUP

• •

  DI 24510.063 Completion of Section I of SSA-4734-F4-SUP

• •

  DI 24510.064 Completion of Section II of SSA-4734-F4-SUP - Remarks

• •

  DI 24510.065 Section III of SSA-4734-F4-SUP - Functional Capacity Assessment

• •

  DI 24510.066 Options to Simplify Case Processing

• •

  DI 24510.090 Mental RFC Assessment Form SSA-4734-F4-SUP - Exhibit

A restriction is what a claimant should not do because of an impairment-related risk to themself or others or because it would be medically inadvisable. A restriction can be exertional or non-exertional.

For the range of lifting and carrying requirements the Department of Labor considered when determining whether to classify work as sedentary, see DI 25001.001A.20, in this section.

Most unskilled sedentary jobs require good use of the hands and fingers for repetitive hand-finger actions.

Regardless of skill level, sedentary work involves:

• •

  Periods of standing or walking generally totaling no more than about two hours and sitting generally totaling approximately six hours of an eight-hour workday.

• •

  Work performed primarily in a seated position, which entails no significant stooping.

Semiskilled work requires some skills but does not require complex duties. Usually, semiskilled work has a specific vocational preparation (SVP) level of three or four as rated in the SCO. For the definition of SVP, see DI 25001.001A.77, in this section.

An MDI that significantly limits a claimant’s physical or mental ability to perform one or more basic work activities needed to do most jobs. For additional MDI information, see DI 24505.001 Individual Must Have a Medically Determinable Severe Impairment.

Significant erosion is a considerable reduction in the available occupations at a particular exertional level. Usually, we use a lower exertional rule as a framework for a decision when there is a significant erosion in the occupational base.

Slight erosion is a minimal impact in the available occupations at an exertional level. Where there is only slight erosion of an occupational base, do not use a lower level exertional rule as a framework for a determination.

For instructions on using a rule as a framework when exertional capacity falls between two rules, see DI 25025.015, and for additional information on applying the medical-vocational rules when the claimant has exertional and nonexertional limitations, see DI 25025.020.

Remaining in a seated position.

For disability program purposes, claimants can gain skills from experience and demonstrated proficiency with work activities in past relevant skilled or semiskilled work.

For disability program purposes, claimants cannot gain skills from:

• •

  unskilled work,

• •

  work that was not relevant,

• •

  volunteer work or hobbies, or

• •

  education.

For additional information, see Transferability of Skills Assessment DI 25015.017.

How work is classified in terms of the following categories: unskilled, semi-skilled, or skilled work.

Skilled work requires good cognitive functioning, involves skilled job functions, and has an SVP level of five to nine in the SCO.

Cognitive function:

• •

  Requires high levels of judgment and adaptability;

• •

  Involves setting realistic goals or making plans independently;

• •

  Requires understanding, carrying out, and remembering complex instructions; and

• •

  Encompasses abstract ideas and problem solving.

Skilled job functions require both:

• •

  Work activity exercising judgment beyond carrying out simple duties; and

• •

  Knowledge of principles and processes of an art, science, or applied trade and the ability to apply that knowledge in a proper and approved manner.

For the definition of SVP, see DI 25001.001A.77, in this section.

The amount of time required for a typical claimant to:

• •

  Learn the techniques,

• •

  Acquire the information, and

• •

  Develop the facility needed for average performance in a job.

A claimant may acquire SVP in a school, military, institutional or vocational environment through:

• •

  Vocational training,

• •

  Apprenticeship training,

• •

  In plant training,

• •

  On-the-job training, or

• •

  Essential experience in other jobs.

As part of our evaluation of whether the claimant’s past work is relevant, we use the SVP rating as a guideline for determining how long it would take a claimant to achieve average performance in a job. At the skilled levels of SVP (5-9), education figures heavily into the SVP rating.

Consider the claimant’s education when evaluating whether the claimant did the job long enough to learn it. Per the Department of Labor, a four-year college degree is equal to two years of SVP. Each year of graduate school is equal to one year of SVP. For additional information on using SVP at step four of sequential evaluation, see DI 25005.015C.

Example of combined education and work experience:

A registered nurse (RN) has an SVP of seven, which means that a claimant can learn this job in about two to four years. If the nurse has a four-year college degree, which counts for two years of SVP, and two years of nursing experience, the adjudicator would determine that the claimant did the job long enough to learn it, unless there was evidence to the contrary.

Remaining on one’s feet in an upright position at a workstation without moving about.

Bending the body downward and forward by bending the spine at the waist.

Lifting, carrying, standing, walking, sitting, pushing, and pulling are strength factors of work.

Any one of the following five levels can define the strength factor:

1. 1. 

   Sedentary,

2. 2. 

   Light,

3. 3. 

   Medium,

4. 4. 

   Heavy, and

5. 5. 

   Very Heavy.

When rating the strength factor of occupations, the Department of Labor considered how the claimant’s body position and the frequency of the repetition of the task affected the amount of energy expended.

Nearly all of the activities required in an exertional range of work.

The performance of significant physical or mental activities in work for pay or profit or in work of a type usually performed for pay or profit. Work may be substantial even if seasonal or part-time, or even if the claimant:

• •

  does less,

• •

  is paid less, or

• •

  has less responsibility than in previous work.

Although the field office has jurisdiction to determine whether work that might affect the potential onset date (POD) is SGA, the adjudicator must determine whether past work was SGA in order to determine whether it was relevant.

If the claimant has not worked for a full year at a job, it is not appropriate to apply the yearly SGA threshold to their earnings to determine whether the work was SGA.

For SGA thresholds for blind employees, see DI 10501.015.

The following chart shows levels of countable earnings indicating that a nonblind employee has engaged in SGA. NOTE: An employee’s “countable earnings” indicate that the employee has engaged in SGA if, given the year and the number of months the employee worked, the amount is more than indicated in this chart:

Monthly SGA CHART for Nonblind Employee

An instructional program designed to prepare a person (or further enhance their ability) to perform a specific type or field of work.

Applying work skills that a claimant has demonstrated in past relevant skilled or semi-skilled work to meet the requirements of other skilled or semi-skilled work. For a detailed discussion of transferability see, DI 25015.015 and DI 25015.017.

Skills obtained from performing past relevant skilled or semi-skilled work that a claimant can use to adjust to the requirements of other skilled or semiskilled work that falls within the claimant’s RFC.

Work that requires little or no judgment to do simple duties that a claimant can learn on the job in a short period of time (i.e., 30 days or less). Such work usually has an SVP level of one or two as rated in the SCO.

For the definition of SVP, see DI 25001.001A.77, in this section.

For the range of lifting and carrying requirements the Department of Labor considered when determining whether to classify work as very heavy, see DI 25001.001A.20, in this section.

Very heavy work usually:

• •

  Requires walking or standing for a significant part of the day.

• •

  Requires frequent to constant stooping and crouching.

• •

  Involves grasping, holding, and turning objects, but does not require use of the fingers for fine activities to the extent required in most sedentary work.

• •

  Includes the functional capacity to perform heavy, medium, light, and sedentary work.

An environmental factor rated in the SCO, meaning exposure to a shaking object or surface.

The vocational factors are age, education, and work experience. We consider the factors along with the claimant’s RFC to determine whether we expect they could adjust to other work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy.

A vocational specialist (VS) is a senior disability examiner, quality control supervisor, or other appropriately qualified staff with specialized knowledge and experience who serves as a vocational resource for a state DDS or federal adjudicating unit. For additional information on the role of the VS, see DI 25003.001.

Moving about on foot.

An environmental factor rated in the SCO, meaning contact with water or other liquids or exposure to nonweather-related humid conditions.

The experience acquired from a claimant’s PRW.

An environmental factor rated in the SCO, meaning exposure to possible bodily injury from falling.

An environmental factor rated in the SCO, meaning exposure to possible injury from explosives.

In the context of PRW (see DI 25001.001A.60, in this section), a period of 30 consecutive days, including weekends, starting from the first day. When we consider whether work lasted 30 calendar days, we generally do not consider the total number of hours or days worked during that period, or whether the work was full-time or part-time. The 30 calendar days requirement for PRW is separate from the consideration of SGA or whether the claimant worked long enough to learn how to do the work, although the 30 calendar days may count toward the time needed for the claimant to learn to do the work. If the claimant was self-employed or an independent contractor, we consider whether the claimant was engaged in the same type of work for 30 calendar days, even if individual work assignments or contracts each lasted fewer than 30 calendar days.