5-STEP SEQUENTIAL PROCESS for SSDI

Under 20 CFR §404.1520, Social Security must use a 5-step sequential process to determine whether a claimant is eligible for Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits. Here are the 5 steps.

STEP 1: Is the claimant currently working at the level of Substantial Gainful Employment? If so, he/she cannot qualify for Social Security disability. If you are a non-blind individual earning at least $1,550 per month you are gainfully employed in 2024.

STEP 2: You must have a medically determinable impairment which has lasted or will last a minimum of 12 consecutive months OR will end in death.

STE[ 3": Social Security must determine whether you meet or equal one of the published Listings. If you do not, your Residual Functional Capacity must be determined.

STEP 4: Are you able to return to any of your past relevant work? If so you are not disabled. If not you will continue to Step 5.

STEP 5: Is there any other work which exists in significant numbers in the national economy that you could do--given your age, education, residual functional capacity and work skills? If there is, you are not disabled. If there is not a finding of "disabled" is appropriate.

(Most claimants who are denied fail at either Step 4 or 5. The Social Security Administration finds that their condition is not severe enough that they can't perform past work or that they are able to adjust to other work).