Disability Determination - Step 4

Updated on: June 22, 2024

WAC 388-449-0080Sequential Evaluation Process step IV — How does the department evaluate if I am able to perform relevant past work?

Clarifying Information

An individual who is 55 years of age or older meets ABD disability criteria if their impairment prevents them from performing all relevant past work from within the past 15 years.

​WorkerResponsibilities

Social Service Intake Interview

  1. In order to be considered relevant past work:
  2. The work must have been performed within the past five years;
    1. The past work must be considered a “substantial gainful activity" as defined in WAC 388-449-0005; and
    2. The individual must have performed the work long enough to meet the Specific Vocational Preparation(SVP) level identified in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) for the corresponding job listing.
      1. We will not consider past work that started and stopped in fewer than 30 calendar days to be considered past relevant work (PRW).
  3. Assign an exertional level (e.g. sedentary, light, medium, heavy) to the each specific relevant past work experience that is consistent with the Strength Rating identified in the DOT for the specific job title. Specific DOT job titles can be located using the DOT Search function.
  4. Document any transferable skills the individual gained during each relevant past work episode based on the individual’s specific job duties. Transferable skills are considered at Step 5 of the Sequential Evaluation Process (SEP).
EXAMPLE Henry worked as a roofer for two years ending in 2008. As a regular part of his weekly job duties, Henry visited potential job sites and provided labor and material estimates as part of the bidding process. While Henry’s work as a roofer required the ability to perform medium work, he developed transferable skills as a bidder (Estimator/DOT Code 169.267-038) and therefore has sedentary transferable skills.

Sequential Evaluation Process

  1. If the individual is neither denied ABD at Step 1 or Step 2, nor approved for ABD at Step 3, the Disability Specialist determines whether the individual is capable of performing relevant past work.
  2. For each relevant past work episode, the Disability Specialist compares the skill and physical demands identified for the specific corresponding DOT job title to the individual’s residual functional capacity to determine whether the individual is capable of returning to past work.
  3. When determining residual functional capacity, the Disability Specialist gives full consideration to all limitations supported by available medical and other evidence. Limitations include:
    1. mental (e.g. social and cognitive factors);
    2. exertional (e.g. work level);
    3. non-exertional (e.g.visual/auditory limitations, inability to work at heights,chemical sensitivities); and
    4. functional limitations (e.g. restrictions related to unrelieved pain or the effects of prescribed medication)resulting from a medically determinable impairment that are supported by available medical and other evidence.
  4. ABD is denied if the individual is capable of returning to relevant past work.
  5. If the individual is not capable of returning to relevant past work, the Disability Specialist proceeds to Step 5 of the Sequential Evaluation Process (SEP) and considers whether the individual is capable of performing other work available in the national economy.
NOTE: "Residual Functional Capacity" is 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 eight hours a day, for five days a week, or an equivalent work schedule. See SSR 96-8p for additional details.