If the SSA concludes that you have the ability to do sedentary work despite your disability, you may not be eligible for disability benefits. You can do some things to prove you can’t do sedentary work.
The most important things you need to establish are your inability to stoop or bend or squat and the requirement to sit and stand as much as needed throughout the day. The more restrictions you can establish, the better.
Keep reading below to find out more.
What Does the SSA Consider Sedentary Work?
According to the SSA, sedentary work includes occupations that require at least two hours per day of standing or walking, but are primarily performed while seated. These jobs occasionally involve carrying small objects and require lifting no more than ten pounds.
It’s important to note that sedentary work does not always involve sitting still all day. Most workers are typically required to be able to lift, carry, walk, and stand objects weighing up to 10 pounds, according to SSA guidelines.
You should remember this distinction as you proceed with the application for disability benefits.
Even so, there are some exceptions, and Social Security may consult a vocational expert to determine which jobs require the least amount of standing and lifting.
In other words, even if you can demonstrate that you cannot perform the lifting or walking tasks required by Social Security’s definition of sedentary work, the government might still be able to reject your claim if they can identify jobs that you could still perform.
Is Sedentary a Disability?
The SSA will create a review known as a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) evaluation during the disability review process. This is a thorough list that consists of the particular functional restrictions that Social Security has determined would prevent you from working.
If the RFC is concurrent with your ability to perform sedentary work, you are unlikely to be eligible for disability benefits unless you are over 50 and meet other requirements. However, you have a higher chance of being determined disabled and qualifying for benefits if the RFC spots restrictions on activity that is “less than sedentary” levels.
There are a variety of impairments and disabilities that might make it difficult for you to perform sedentary work. For instance, you might be unable to work a sedentary job if you have a chronic back condition that prevents you from sitting for more than six to eight hours at a time, or if you walk with the assistance of a mobility aid.
Examples include the inability to bend, the need to constantly shift positions, the requirement for focus- and concentration-impairing medication, the requirement to sit and stand at will, or the requirement to raise your legs above waist level. Any limitations that would make it difficult to complete an entire eight-hour workday would likewise lower your capacity below “sedentary.”
Sedentary Restriction Evidence
Most people under 50 must be able to prove their total disability and their inability to undertake even simple tasks continuously in order to be eligible for disability compensation.
It can be challenging to demonstrate that you cannot conduct sedentary vs. light-duty work regularly, but some characteristics can be used to accomplish this.
You may provide evidence of the following to prove you can’t do the restricted work:
- You cannot frequently lift smaller weights or 10 pounds on occasion.
- You cannot stand or walk for more than two hours at a time, nor can you sit for more than six of the eight hours.
- You must have your legs raised to the point where they make it difficult to sit at a desk or workstation;
- You must spend more than an hour lying down during the day; You need a device to assist you to walk, such as a cane or walker;
- A conventional sit/stand desk would not be able to accommodate your frequent position changes.
It is crucial to provide proof of these issues from your medical records. Test findings, statements from your treating doctor outlining your restrictions or limitations, and treatment schedules may be included.
How Does RFC Relate to Sedentary Ability?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a residual functional capacity (RFC) assessment tool to identify any potential work-related restrictions an applicant may have due to their disability. An RFC assesses a candidate’s maximum regularly and continuously achievable performance.
An RFC assessment will cover four concerns:
1. The tasks that one can perform at work on an ongoing basis.
2. All functional abilities, including an explanation of how the given data supports or contradicts the claimant’s claims and the findings of healthcare professionals and other data.
3. Problems with functional capacity that affect one’s ability to perform work.
4. Findings regarding functional capacity.
In other words, the RFC will consider your skills and limitations to determine the amount of work you are capable of doing (heavy, medium, light, sedentary, or less than sedentary). You should be granted disability payments if the SSA determines that you cannot undertake sedentary work.
An RFC is mostly supported by medical data. It’s crucial to note that the above statement is not intended to be a recommendation for any specific course of action.
Types of Occupations That Are Sedentary
“Sit-down” jobs are typically found in an office or production line. A telemarketer, an accountant, or an assembly line worker for semiconductors are all examples of sedentary occupations. Regular use of your hands to type, operate controls, or grasp and hold objects is typically required for these jobs.
Retail and the service sector are common places to find entry-level work. Tasks like cashiering, fast food work, and stocking shelves would be considered light. Having the ability to talk to and reach out to people for extended periods of time and to use your arms in all directions (including overhead, in front of you, and to the sides) are common requirements of these types of jobs.
13 Ways for Proving You Can’t Perform Sedentary Work
To help in determining what kinds of restrictions may prevent a person from performing a job, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has published a set of rules. Most often, a person’s capacity to work is severely restricted, leading to a “less than sedentary” classification.
- Are there restrictions on how much time you can spend sitting during an eight-hour workday? Several courts have ruled that the capacity to perform a sedentary activity that entails sitting for most of the workday is lost if one cannot sit for more than half of the workday. Also, if you can only stand, sit, and walk for less than eight hours a day, you should be considered disabled and unable to work full-time.
- Are you able to turn your head? Your ability to turn your head up or down may be compromised by a neck/cervical spinal fracture or a degenerative disc condition (stenosis, herniation, spondylolysis), which would rule out employment involving computer usage.
- Are you unable to lift anything objects ten pounds or less? Lifting heavier objects such as chairs or files at some point in every job is somewhat common and difficult to avoid completely.
- Do you have vision problems or eye injuries that make it difficult for you to perform typing or reading-related tasks?
- Do you frequently need to take unplanned breaks because of symptoms?
- Do you have a medical condition requiring switching between standing and sitting periodically throughout the workday? According to Social Security, the occupational basis for unskilled labor erodes if you must switch positions more frequently than is permitted during regular breaks and lunch.
- Is it difficult for you to hold, handle, or finger with one or both hands? The hands and fingers must be used often or continuously while performing many unskilled jobs.
- Do you require the assistance of a cane or walker to get up and down from a sitting position? Do you also require a balance aid at work? If it is determined that you need a walking aid, you may be limited to one-arm work.
- Should your legs be elevated to lessen swelling? The majority of occupational experts will attest that if you must elevate your legs above your waist while working, you cannot keep a job.
- Do you have persistent fatigue and the need to lie down or nap for more than 45 minutes throughout the workday because of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS/RSD), fibromyalgia, or another medical condition?
- Do you have two or more days per month where you can’t go to work, have to arrive late, or have to leave early because of your medical conditions? If so, it is unlikely that you would meet the attendance requirements of any employment that involves sitting down all day.
- Have your cardiovascular (heart) or respiratory systems been identified as being affected by a work-related illness or a common disease of life? If so, you could be able to do away with your capacity for sedentary work in environments with fumes, dust, noise, humidity, extremely high or low temperatures, or dangerous machinery.
- Have you ever experienced a concussion (including post-concussive syndrome) or another type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that affects your capacity to focus, pay attention, socialize, or follow directions? Many sedentary occupations involve organizational abilities and interaction with co-workers, managers, and the public (in person, by phone, or by email).
Conclusion
You can do a few things to try and make sure the SSA does not find you capable of doing sedentary work and ultimately deem you ineligible for disability benefits. We hope the information in this article will be useful for proving you can’t.
