DISABILITY SURVIVAL GUIDE: NORTH ALABAMA EDITION

  In Alabama and Tennessee slightly less than 30 percent of Social Security disability claims are approved at the first try--the application level. The other 70 percent get denial letters . Many of those denial letters will state something like this: "We realize that you cannot perform any of your past work. However, there is other work that you can do." Social Security must first determine whether an applicant can perform any of his or her past relevant wok . This refers to full-time work performed within the 5 years previous to becoming disabled. They look at work experience for the past 5 years. If they conclude that you cannot do any of your past work, they must determine another question: "Is there any other work that he/she can do, based on his or her residual functional capacity, age, education and work experience?" If there is "other work," then the claimant will be found NOT DISABLED and denied. Many of my clients find that ...