Social Security Disability Analysis Step 5: Can You Perform Other Work?

If you have a severe impairment and you are unable to return to your prior work, SSA finally must determine whether you are able to do “other work.” At Step 5 in its evaluation process, the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) typically relies upon a Vocational Expert (“VE”) to provide evidence as to whether the national economy includes jobs in significant numbers that fit within your designated functional capacity. The ALJ and VE do not assess whether you actually are successful in obtaining such jobs, but your ability to perform other work does include consideration of your age, education and work experience.