At step 4 :

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  If the disability determination proceeds to step 4, the claimant must provide evidence that their medically determinable impairment(s) prevent them from performing past relevant work (PRW).

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  If the claimant has PRW that is within their residual functional capacity (RFC) as the claimant did the work or as generally performed in the national economy, or the claimant does not provide relevant evidence of PRW, stop evaluation of disability and deny the claim. For situations in which adjudicators may apply expedited step 4 processing, see POMS DI 25005.005.

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  If the evidence supports a finding that the claimant cannot do PRW, the disability determination proceeds to step 5.

At step 4, do not consider whether PRW exists in significant numbers in the national economy. Adjudicators must limit analysis at this step to a function-by-function comparison of the claimant’s RFC with the demands of PRW as the claimant actually performed that work or as workers generally perform that work in the national economy. Find the claimant not disabled if their RFC is consistent with the demands of PRW.

When evaluating a claimant’s ability to do PRW at step 4, do not consider:

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  Age,

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  Education,

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  Transferability of skills,

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  Whether PRW exists in significant numbers in the national economy,

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  Whether PRW was done in a foreign country,

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  Whether PRW was an elected position,

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  Whether PRW was in the military and the claimant is no longer in the military,

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  Whether the claimant has maintained licensure or currently meets the qualifications for licensure to do PRW,

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  Whether the employer had accommodations for the claimant that are no longer available,

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  Whether the claimant would be hired by an employer,

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  Whether PRW would only be available on a part time or seasonal basis,

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  Whether the claimant would have to relocate to do the job, or

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  Whether a job opening exists.

EXAMPLE: The claimant states that they can no longer perform their PRW as a truck driver because their narcotic pain medications for their back impairment prevent them from obtaining the commercial driver’s license that is necessary to do their job. Although we do not consider the claimant’s inability to obtain a license, the adjudicator should carefully consider whether the RFC limitations resulting from the claimant's back impairment and the side effects of their medications would preclude their PRW as a truck driver.