WHAT IS A STEP 4 APPROVAL/DENIAL?

Social Security must use 5-steps in considering whether you are disabled or not.  Most cases make it to Step 4 or Step 5, where a decision is made.

So, what is a Step 4 approval?

Step 4 determines that a claimant who is over 50 years of age is not medically able to perform any past work (looking back at 15 years of work history).  For example, if a 55 year-old claimant worked in construction for the past 15 years, which is considered heavy exertion level, but can no longer perform heavy work, a finding of disabled is called for.  

Social Security does not require persons of "advanced age" to adjust to new kinds of work.  So, the way to win at Step 4 is to  prove that you are not able to sustain any of the work you have done during the past 15 year period.  Work you did longer than 15 years ago will not count against you.

Now, a quick word about Step 5.  Step 5 is where younger claimants usually wind up for a decision.  The question here is:  Is there any type of work in the US economy that you are able to perform, based on your age, education, past work experience, and current functional capacity?  Being unable to perform past work will not result in a finding that you are disabled.  For example, if that construction worker in our previous example is only 40 years old (not 55), it doesn't help that he can't do construction work any more.  If he can perform some other kind of work, he is not disabled according to the rules.  So, if he can work as a packager, a small product assembly worker, or a food and beverage order clerk (as examples), he  is not disabled.

This explains why it is much easier for an older claimant to win.  

Can you still win at a younger age?  Yes, but you must go all the way to Step 5 and prove that there is no work in the national economy that you are able to do:  a very difficult, demanding burden.  Generally, a person under age 50 must prove that he/she cannot perform even sedentary, unskilled work.  In other words, he/she is unable to perform a sit-down job  which requires no special training or education.

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