Social Security will issue a "Step 4" disabililty denial when the claimant cannot perform any past relevant work--that is, he can't perform any full-time job that he has held during the past 15 year period.
Example:
Susan, who is 42 years old, has worked for the last 9 years as a warehouse stock clerk. This work requires standing and/or walking more than 6 hours per day, frequent bending--and lifting up to 60 pounds at times. Social Security classifies this work as "medium level work." Susan has developed lumbar disc problems with back pain and she can no longer do the standing, walking or lifting required in her warehouse job.
In the past 15 years, Susan had a job as an office manager for a dental office. She held this job for 4 years and it required less than 2 hours per day of standing/walking and lifting less than 10 pounds occasionally. It is classified by Social Security as sedentary work.
Now, since Susan is no longer able to continue working as a warehouse clerk, is she disabled under Social Security rules? Probably not. Because she can still perform at least one previous job or "past relevant work." She could still perform the work of office manager, which is easier "sedentary" work.
Therefore, Social Security is likely to issue a "Step 4" denial: unable to do her current work but able to perform past relevant work as an office manager.
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