VOCATIONAL ANALYSIS Flashcards
WHAT IS VOCATIONAL ANALYSIS?
Vocational Analysis is a process that enables you to identify the demands of a particular job. The job demands are a description of the physical and/or mental capabilities required to perform the job. If a person is unable to perform the demands of a particular job, Vocational Analysis enables you to find a less demanding job they can perform. If SSA cannot find a less demanding job that fits the claimant’s RFC, the case is allowed.
WHAT IS RESIDUAL FUNCITIONAL CAPACITY?
A Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) is the claimant’s remaining ab8ility to function (physically or mentally) after considering their impairment. The RFC denotes the physical and/or mental capabilities by noting limitations extracted from (medical evidence) and applying them to work requirements (past and less demanding).
RFC is a subjective determination that SSA makes based on the claimant’s medical evidence. If SSA’s RFC results in a denial, you have the right and the responsibility to argue for a lower or more restrictive RFC that would result in an allowance. If the claimant’s medical evidence supports the advocate’s position on the RFC, SSA will eventually accept your argument.
EXERTION COMPONENTS
Within the Vocational Analysis, the term exertion defines any physical activity required to perform work. The most commonly used exertion criteria used by SSA are:
Lifting, carrying, Standing, Walking, Sitting, Pushing, Pulling, Strength, Fatigue
These exertion components must be within a claimant’s RFC. If they are not, SSA cannot deny the person back to work requiring these components.
NON-EXERTION COMPONENTS
There are non-exertion components of work. Examples of non-exertion components are:
Seeing, Hearing, Balance, Environment, Pain.
DESCRIBING LIMITATIONS
There are many terms used in describing a person’s physical and/or mental limitations. In physical disorders, limitations are most often measured with descriptive words like “frequently” and “occasionally.”
Frequently means you can (perform an action0 for at least one-third but less than two-thirds (cumulative) of an eight-hour workday. Occasionally means you can )perform the action) for less than one-third of an eight-hour workday.
Two other exertional abilities used by SSA to reduce a claimant’s RFC are Pushing and Pulling. These physical capabilities also use the terms “frequently” and “occasionally” to measure their severity.
“Occasionally” means that a person can push or pull for less than one-third of an eight-hour workday. A lot of jobs, especially those involving heavy equipment, require pushing or pulling.
Impairments affecting the use of a claimant’s hands, arms or legs can result in a restricted RFC. These types of impairments can also restrict a claimant’s ability to stand and walk.
EXERTIONAL CATEGORIES
HEAVY WORK
Heavy work is the ability to lift or carry 100 pounds occasionally and 50 pounds frequently, and to stand or walk six hours of an eight-hour day.
EXERTIONAL CATEGORIES
MEDIUM WORK
Medium work is the ability to lift or carry 50 pound occasionally and 25 pounds frequently and to stand or walk six hours of an eight-hour day. Medium work is an RFC given to claimants whose exertional ability is moderately limited. Moderacy is determined by medical judgment.
EXERTIONAL CATEGORIES
LIGHT WORK
Light Work is the ability to lift and carry 20 pounds occasionally and ten pounds frequently and to stand or walk six hours of an eight-hour day. Light work is an RFC given to claimants who can’t do medium work but are not restricted to sedentary work.
EXERTIONAL CATEGORIES
SEDENTARY WORK
Sedentary Work requires lifting no more than ten pounds maximum and occasionally lifting or carrying articles of lesser weight. Sedentary work is performed primarily in a seated position, up to two hours per day. There are also up to two hours per day of standing and walking required. Sedentary also requires good use of the hands and fingers for repetitive hand and finger motion.
EXERTIONAL CATEGORIES
LESS THAN SEDENTARY
Less Than Sedentary
This is not an official RFC category, but it is an RFC rating sometimes given. It will always result in the allowance of the claim. If a claimant cannot perform sedentary work, they automatically have an RFC for less than sedentary, resulting in an allowance determination.
STANDING AND WALKING
If a claimant cannot stand or walk at least six hours of an eight-hour day, with reduced use of both of his hands, then the claimant cannot do sedentary work. Similarly, if a claimant has a sedentary RFC but needs to use one hand for an assistive device, then the claimant actually has a less than sedentary RFC.
Although both of the claimant’s hands are good in this case, he needs one of them for the device, making it unavailable at work.
POSTURE
POSTURE
Posture implies the ability to bend, stoop, climb, balance, kneel, crouch, and crawl. Posture is the attitude or directional orientation of the body. Postural exertional abilities are described on a RFC as:
Never
Frequently
Occasionally
“Frequently” means that the claimant can perform the activity at least one-third but less than two-thirds of an eight-hour workday.
“Occasionally” means the claimant can do the activity less than one-third of an eight-hour workday. If the RFC gives any restrictions of posture, it must explain why the impairments justify the limitations.
MANIPULATION
Manipulation is the ability to use the hands in various positions for various tasks. Manipulative abilities include reaching, including overhead, handling (gross manipulations), fingering (fine manipulations), and feeling (skin receptors). Manipulative abilities on an RFC assessment are described as:
Limited
Unlimited
An RFC with restriction of manipulation must show why the impairment justifies the limitation. Manipulative abilities are especially relevant when a claimant is limited to using their hands less than one-third of a workday.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR VISUAL DISORDERS
RFCs describe visual abilities as limited or unlimited. If an RFC gives a restriction of vision, it must state why the impairment justifies the limitation. The RFC rating for visual limitations takes into account six factors:
Near Acuity - Near acuity is important for seeing close up, such as reading a book or typewritten papers. Cataracts and retinal disease are the most likely causes of decreased near acuity that cannot be corrected with glasses or contacts.
Good near acuity is not required for many jobs for light work or higher. Also, some sedentary jobs don’t require good near acuity. therefore, being allowed disability on the basis of limited near acuity is unlikely – especially in young claimants who have flexibility in transferring to different kinds of jobs.
DISTANCE VISION
Most decreases in distance acuity can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses and are not considered limiting. Some cases, such as those involving cataracts, can be cured with surgery. If distance acuity is limited and uncorrectable but does not meet or equal a listing, you may still be unable to perform your prior work.
Depth Perception: Depth perception is the ability to perceive how far something is from you. Depth perception is affected when a claimant is blind in one eye. Jobs such as being a pilot require good depth perception, but many other jobs don’t.
