Disability Determination - Step 5

WAC 388-449-0100 Sequential Evaluation Process step V — How does the department evaluate if I can perform other work when determining disability?

​Clarifying Information

1. If an individual is not approved at Step 3 and not denied at Steps 1, 2, or 4 of the Sequential Evaluation Process (SEP), the Disability Specialist determines if the individual can perform other work.
2. When determining if the individual is capable of performing other work, the Disability Specialist gives full consideration to the individual's residual functional capacity, age, education, and work experience.
   
   NOTE: The Social Security Administration (SSA) defines residual functional capacity (RFC)as the most the individual can do despite their impairment based on an assessment of an individual's ability to do sustained work-related physical and mental activities in a work setting on a regular and continuing basis. A "Regular and continuing basis" means 8 hours a day, for 5 days a week, or an equivalent work schedule. See SSR 96-8p for additional details.
3. If the individual meets the approval criteria detailed in the Physical, Mental, or Combination tables in WAC 388-449-0100, they are considered unable to perform other work and ABD is approved.
4.  If the individual does not meet the ABD approval criteria detailed in the Physical, Mental, or Combination tables, the Disability Specialist determines whether the individual is capable of performing at least two jobs available in the national economy.
5. If the Disability Specialist determines the individual is capable of performing other work available in the national economy, the Disability Specialist must list at least two specific jobs from the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) that the individual is able to perform given their residual functional capacity, age, education, and work experience.
6. If the Disability Specialist cannot identify at least two examples of jobs the individual can perform despite their impairment, ABD is approved.