The individual is a Title XVI recipient and disability was established at the CPD due to the severity of the individual’s bipolar disorder. The individual currently works 20 hours a week as a cashier at a grocery store.
The available evidence lacked detailed functional information necessary to assess the individual’s bipolar disorder. The DDS adjudicator spoke with the individual and obtained additional information about the activities performed in work and general activities of daily living. This information is documented in the Case Notes section of the DDE. The activities performed in work provided functional information, and the activities performed in work were considered in the determination, supported by the policy established in DI
28030.026D. Please refer to the PRT in the DDE for a discussion of how this information was used to assess function, along with other medical and non-medical evidence used to evaluate impairment severity. The functional information provided by the individual did not conflict with other medical and non-medical evidence evaluated at the time of the CDR.
Example of correspondence about work activities:
The SSA-454-BK indicated that the individual worked since the CPD. The
adjudicator contacted the individual and obtained the following information during the
call. The individual explained that job duties include scanning and entering items at
the cash register, resolving customer disputes, money handling, counting the register
till at the end of each shift, assisting customers in locating items in the store, and
re-stocking items near the register when time allows. The individual indicates that they
have maintained a good working relationship with management, co-workers, and customers.
The individual stated that they were recently offered a promotion to work as a shift
lead at the customer service desk.
Example of how information is used in PRT (excerpt – does not include
full discussion of medical evidence):
The information obtained by the adjudicator regarding activities performed in
work are consistent with the available medical evidence and support a finding that MI
has occurred. At the CPD, the individual had demonstrated significant problems
appropriately interacting with others due to bipolar disorder. At the CPD, the
individual left several medical appointments due to frustration and arguments and a
third party reported frequent problems interacting, resulting in the individual hanging
up on phone calls and leaving home of friends and stores slamming doors and yelling. The
activities performed in work since the CPD demonstrate that the individual’s ability to
interact with others and adapt and manage oneself have improved, demonstrated by daily
successful interactions with customers in a retail setting and positive relationships
with management, co-workers, and customers.