If your condition does not meet one of the Medical Listings that we discussed last time, SSA moves to step 4 of the sequential evaluation process.  Here, SSA must determine whether you are capable of performing your past work.  In considering past work, SSA only looks at the work that you performed in the past 15 years.  In essence, SSA is concerned with the easiest job that you performed in the past 15 years.  If, despite your impairments, you are capable of performing that job, then SSA will determine that you are not disabled.

In order to determine whether you are capable of performing any of your past work, SSA must make an assessment of what is known as your Residual Functional Capacity.  Your RFC is what you can still do despite your impairments.

How is my RFC determined?  Only the SSA decision maker can assess your RFC, but in doing so he must consider your medical evidence, your statements about your limitations, and any opinions provided by your doctors about your limitations.

How is my RFC used to determine whether I can perform my past work?  Well, SSA categorizes jobs as sedentary, light, heavy, and very heavy.  Each category has an exertional functional capacity requirement.  To perform a particular job, you must be able to perform the exertional requirements for that job.  For example, if your easiest job in the past 15 years is categorized as light, you must have the ability to lift 20lbs occasionally, 10lbs frequently, and to stand or walk most of an 8 hour work day to perform that job.

What if my easiest job required me to do more than the way SSA categorizes it?  It doesn’t matter.  SSA is only concerned with whether you have the RFC to perform the job as it is ordinarily done.  But, if your past work was actually easier than the SSA categories, then SSA will look at how you actually performed the job to see if your RFC will allow you to perform it again.  Doesn’t seem fair, does it?

If I can’t perform my past work, will I be found disabled?  Not necessarily.  If you can perform your past work, you won’t be found disabled.  If you can’t, the evaluation moves to the final step of disability determination, which is a determination of whether you can perform any other work that exists in significant numbers in the national economy.