If the evidence is sufficient to show that past work does not meet any one of the criteria for relevancy, you have ruled it out. You will not need to obtain a full description of the demands and duties of the job. For detailed relevancy requirements see, DI 25005.015.

You may rule out past work if even one of the physical or mental demands are beyond the RFC both as the claimant did the job and as generally performed in the national economy. There is no need to develop additional evidence about whether the job was relevant or whether any other demands of the job are within the claimant’s RFC.

If the vocational evidence is not sufficient to make a step 4 finding, consider using an expedited vocational assessment, if applicable. For more information about expedited vocational assessment at steps 4 and 5 of sequential evaluation, see DI 25005.005.

If the vocational evidence is sufficient to find the claimant can do even one past relevant job on a function-by-function basis, either as described or as generally performed in the national economy, find the claimant not disabled at step 4 of sequential evaluation. No further vocational development is needed.

You must obtain additional vocational development if all of the following are true:

• •

  expedite procedures do not apply;

• •

  it appears that the claimant may be capable of performing a past job either as claimant performed it or as generally performed in the national economy; and

• •

  you need additional information to determine if that job met the requirements for past relevant work.

You must always have sufficient medical-vocational evidence to rule out ability to do PRW both as the claimant described it and as generally performed in the national economy prior to allowing at step 5 of sequential evaluation.

You must obtain additional vocational development if:

• •

  expedite procedures do not apply;

• •

  the claimant’s work meets the relevancy requirements;

• •

  the claimant has provided insufficient evidence about PRW to determine if the claimant can do the job as the claimant performed it; or

• •

  the evidence is insufficient to identify the occupation as it is generally performed in the national economy.

You must have sufficient vocational evidence to rule out ability to perform PRW as the claimant performed it. You will not be able to identify work as generally done in the national economy for claimants with an RFC for:

• •

  inability to sustain a workday,

• •

  inability to meet the basic demands of unskilled work, or

• •

  significantly restricted range of sedentary work.

After reviewing all available vocational evidence, you may obtain additional vocational information from the claimant by phone. Phone contact may be the most expeditious method to gather additional or clarifying information about age, education, and work history.

NOTE: If the claimant is incompetent, hospitalized, or otherwise unable to respond, obtain the necessary information from a family member or from the person filing on behalf of the claimant.

For detailed instructions on how to complete the SSA-3369-BK, see DI 11005.025C.

If you choose not to document vocational information obtained by phone on an SSA-3369-BK, document the information in the Claim Communications section of the electronic Claims Analysis Tool (eCAT). This ensures the information will be included in the Disability Determination Explanation (DDE).

EXCEPTION: For eCAT exclusions, document your findings on SSA-5002 (Report of Contact), or the Case Development Summary Worksheet as described in DI 20503.001. You may also document the information using the Disability Claim Processing System (DCPS).

If you send a new SSA-3369-BK, ask that the claimant completely document each job held during the relevant 15-year period.