Social Security’s Five-Step Sequential Evaluation

The Social Security Administration (Social Security) uses a five-step sequential evaluation process to decide whether an individual is disabled. This means that the questions are asked and answered in a specific order. Below are the five steps, and the possible outcomes at each step.

1.      Are you working?

At Step 1, Social Security considers your work activity. If you are engaging in work activity, and you are earning at or above a certain amount, this is known as Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). If you are engaging in SGA, Social Security will find that you are not disabled. Therefore, Social Security will not move on to any of the other steps in the five-step sequential evaluation process.

 If Social Security determines that you are not engaging in work activity, then the answer to the first step is no, you are not working, and Social Security will move on to Step 2.

2.      Is your impairment “severe”?

At Step 2, Social Security considers the medical severity of your impairment(s). To be severe, your impairment(s) must cause you to be unable to perform basic work-related activities. If Social Security determines that your impairment(s) is not severe, Social Security will find that you are not disabled. Therefore, Social Security will not move on to any of the other steps in the five-step sequential evaluation process.

If Social Security determines that your impairment(s) is severe, then the answer to the second step is yes, your impairment(s) is severe, and Social Security will move on to Step 3.

3.      Does your impairment match a medical condition in Social Security’s Listing of Impairments?

At Step 3, Social Security will look at its own list of impairments. Social Security’s “Listing of Impairments” is separated into major body systems. Each of the listed impairments contain specific medical criteria where, if you meet the criteria, Social Security will find that you are disabled. There is no need for Social Security to move on to any of the other steps in the five-step sequential evaluation process.

If your impairment(s) is not included as a listed impairment, Social Security will decide if your impairment(s) is of equal severity to one of the listed impairments. In this instance, if Social Security determines that your impairment(s) is of equal severity to one of the listed impairments, Social Security will find that you are disabled. There is no need for Social Security to move on to any of the other steps in the five-step sequential evaluation process.

If Social Security determines that your impairment(s) does not meet or equal a listed impairment, then the answer to the third step is no, your impairment(s) does not match a medical condition in Social Security’s Listing of Impairments, and Social Security will move on to Step 4.

4.      Can you do work that you did previously?

At Step 4, Social Security asks if, despite your severe impairment(s), you can perform work that you did in the past. To make this determination, Social Security considers both how your impairment(s) affects you and the physical and mental requirements of your previous work. In considering how your impairment affects you, Social Security will assess your physical and/or mental abilities despite your impairment(s). What your physical and/or mental abilities are despite your impairments is known as your residual functional capacity. Social Security will then evaluate your previous work and determine if you have the residual functional capacity to perform your previous work. If the answer is yes, you do have the residual functional capacity to perform their previous work, Social Security will find that you are not disabled. Therefore, Social Security will not move on to any of the other steps in the five-step sequential evaluation process.

If Social Security determines that that you do not have the residual functional capacity to perform your previous work, Social Security will move on to Step 5.

5.      Can you do any other work?

At Step 5, Social Security asks if you have the residual functional capacity to perform any other type of work. Social Security will consider your age, education, past work experience, transferable skills, and your residual functional capacity, to determine if you can adjust to other available work. If the answer is yes, you are able to adjust to other available work, the Social Security will find that you are not disabled.

If the answer is no, you are unable to adjust to other work, then Social Security will find that you are disabled.