Sedentary, Light, Medium & Heavy Work – What Do These Terms Mean?
Social Security characterizes work as sedentary, light, medium and heavy. The simplified definitions are as follows:
Sedentary: Requires the ability to sit up to six hours in an eight hour work day, lift light objects such as files and paperwork frequently during the day, and objects weighing up to 10 pounds occasionally during the day.
Light: Requires the ability to stand up to six hours in an eight hour work day, lift up to 10 pounds frequently and up to 20 pounds occasionally.
Medium: Requires the ability to stand up to six hours in an eight hour work day, lift up to 25 pounds frequently and 50 pounds occasionally.
Heavy: Same standing as light and medium, lifting heavier than medium.
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I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR 1 1/2 YEARS FOR MY HEARING AND NOW MY ATTORNEY SAY’S I’M ON A LIST OF 15 PEOPLE TO BE REVIEWED BY A JUDGE WITHOUT A HEARING,AM I GETTING THE RUN A ROUND OR WHAT DOES ANY-ONE KNOW ABOUT SUCH A LETTER?????? I’V BEEN A WAITRESS FOR 30 YEARS AND NOW SINCE I WAS PARILIZED IN THE HOSPITAL FROM A I.V. PLACEMENT,IN WHICH A BLOOD CLOT FORMED AND CRUSHED MY NERVES TO MY RIGHT THUMB AND INDEX FINGER AND CAN NO-LONGER BE A WAITRESS,DOCTOR SAYS I’M A 1 HANDED EMPLOYEE,SEDADARY AT THAT CAN ANYONE HELP ME????THANK YOU,MELODIE BOLBY
Hi Melodie – I am also on a list for on the record review by the end of the year = I have been waiting for a court date for 17 months and live in Florida – good luck to you
did you get your disabiltiy
I am 30% service connected from military. Will be applying for additionlal service connection (through VA) as my condition has worsened. On top of this I have my medical and job worksheet ready to file for social security disability for PTSD which my doctor deems me “permanently disabled”. This SSD appointment will be next week. Since I have not returned to work in 4 months I will be applying for Federal disability retirement as well as reopening and submitting a request that my previos OWCP claim be opened.(now that I have a doctor who deems my condtion “permanently disabled” In my 23 years of non-stop work I have never gone through so much beaurocracy. Could never imagine that when I became incapacitated that I would be needing to do all this. I can only hope and pray that my doctors diagnosis for PTSD and his conclusion (three page synopsis) get me through as well as my physical (service connected) disabilities. I advise anyone to undergo a Functional Capacity Exam which will reflect if you can/cannot do your job in accordance with DOL standards. Make sure you bring your JOB DUTIES AND REQUIRMENTS with you before the FCE. All my applications will be submitted next week. Any advise to me? Hope this helps someone.
Melodie,
All I can say is I was hoping to get a review without having to go to trial. From what I was told these paperwork reviews are usally done for a person who more then likely get disability based on documents alone. I applied for disability in Ohio in 2004 and did not get approved and get my first check until 2008. Be thankful it has only taken 1 1/2 years. Keep your chin up and good luck!!!
I had my hearing recently and had just received a denial. I was lacking medical records. I have updated medical records and I plan on getting my old medical records from Pa. My question is this, does anyone win their disability cases after they have been turned down. My attorney told me that no one wins once they have been turned down by the judge. My second question is, I was listed as being able to perform light duty work. I will be submitting medical evidence that due to a hernia ,I am not able to lift more than 10 pounds. I have zero stomach muscles and my hernia will never be able to be repaired if I develop another hernia. Will the appeals court reverse their decision my ability to perform light work. My attorney said the medical records concerning my hernia would have helped my case. I feel the hernia medical records would have helped my case. What are your thoughts.
Sue, I think that the hernia records would be relevant. As far as appealing, if you lose at the ALJ hearing level, you can and should look into filing an appeal with the Appeals Council. You should ask your attorney to refer you to an appellate specialist in your area. I sometimes file my own appeals to the Appeals Council but more often than not, I refer to my friend, attorney Stuart Barasch – if your attorney can’t help, you may want to give him a call.
I have two ruptured lower. Bac disc. No surgery requires yet. But my doc said that my permanent restriction is 70lbs. Does thhat. Mean I’m disabled or wht?
Got a letter after hearing from SS for appt to determine how much,they also owe me back pay for 18months what to say this will determine how much HELP!!!!!!!!
Dani, if your only limitations are a 70 pound lifting restriction, you will have an uphill battle to win Social Security disability. There are many, many jobs in the national economy that you could perform if this is your only work limitation.
I have a hearing coming up and a back injury (my lower lumbar is fused) I have DDD, along with facet joint arthritis. At my FCE I tested below sedentary, do u think this should pose an issue at my hearing?
Kim, if you have an FCE (functional capacity evaluation) that shows you have less than sedentary capacity, you have a good likelihood of winning. I would make sure to discuss the work activity issues that arise from your pain as well.
Thanks Jonathan, I won my hearing today.@jginsberg: