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Medical-Vocational Rules

Jacksonville Social Security attorneys know that many medical-vocational rules apply to disability determinations. For example, the Social Security Administration (SSA), which runs the disability program, decides what work a claimant can perform while still being qualified as disabled.Jacksonville Social Security attorneys

The work activities that someone can still do despite a disability are called their “residual functional capacity” or RFC. Can the person still do any of the work they have done in the past 15 years? That is a key question. If a claimant cannot perform past work, then what work can they still perform? To figure this out, the SSA uses a reference manual to define sedentary, light or medium work jobs.

Next the SSA looks at factors including age, education, and experience. The SSA uses a table that combines these factors to determine whether someone is disabled. It’s all done by the book.

About drug and alcohol

Just because a person is an alcoholic or drug abuser does notnecessarily mean they are not disabled.If he or she were to stop using drugs or alcohol, would the person still be unable to work? If so, then disability may be found.

For example, consider a case in which alcohol abuse has led to liver disease. If a doctor says that discontinuation of drinking will heal the person, then the individual will not be found disabled. But, if the doctor says that the person will remain unable to work,even if he or she quit drinking, then they are disabled. It is not material that the drug or alcohol abuse may have caused the disease in the first place.

As you can tell, the rules are pretty strict and very complicated. For more information about your disability claim, work with a local legal pro. Call the Jacksonville Social Security attorneys at First Coast Disability Lawyers, 904-215-5555.

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