Effective June 22, 2024, the Social Security Administration determined that 114 occupations listed in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles are not isolated jobs that can no longer be used to find that a person is not disabled.
Social Security disability determinations use a five step sequential evaluation process: 1) Is the person working or earning less than the defined substantial gainful activity amount? 2) Does the person have a severe impairment? 3) Does the condition meet or equal a listed impairment? 4) Can the person do their past relevant work? 5) Is there any work in the national economy that the person can do?
The rules change is about the fifth step of the sequential evaluation. Social Security uses the Dictionary of Occupational Titles to determine whether a potential job exists substantial numbers in the national economy. If Social Security finds that a person can do a job that exists in substantial numbers in the national economy, then Social Security will find them to be not disabled. Social Security has determined that 114 jobs that are listed in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles no longer exist in the national economy in substantial numbers and therefore cannot be used to support a not disabled determination.
In addition, Social Security identified 13 jobs listed in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles that federal court have questioned. Social Security is implementing an additional evidence requirement for those 13 jobs for a finding that they do exist in substantial numbers in the national economy. (Social Security Matters, June 24, 2024, EM-24026, June 22, 2024, and EM-24027, June 22, 2024.)