Opinion ID: 3066184
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Five-Step Sequential Process

Text: The Social Security Act defines “disability” as the inability to engage “in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.” 42 U.S.C. § 1382c(a)(3)(A). A claimant “shall be determined to be under a disability only if his physical or mental impairment or impairments are of such severity that he is not only unable to do his previous work but cannot, considering his age, education, and work experience, engage in any other kind of substantial gainful work which exists in the national economy, regardless of whether such work exists in the immediate area in which he lives, or whether a specific job vacancy exists for him, or whether he would be hired if he applied for work.” § 1382c(a)(3)(B). ALJs apply a five-step evaluation process to determine whether a claimant qualifies as disabled. Ludwig v. Astrue, 681 F.3d 1047, 1048 n.1 (9th Cir. 2012). That procedure is set forth at 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4): (4) The five-step sequential evaluation process. The sequential evaluation process is GARRISON V. COLVIN 29 a series of five “steps” that we follow in a set order . . . If we can find that you are disabled or not disabled at a step, we make our determination or decision and we do not go on to the next step. If we cannot find that you are disabled or not disabled at a step, we go on to the next step. Before we go from step three to step four, we assess your residual functional capacity . . . . We use this residual functional capacity assessment at both step four and step five when we evaluate your claim at these steps. These are the five steps we follow:
activity, if any. If you are doing substantial gainful activity, we will find that you are not disabled . . .
medical severity of your impairment(s). If you do not have a severe medically determinable physical or mental impairment that meets the duration requirement in § 404.1509, or a combination of impairments that is severe and meets the duration requirement, we will find that you are not disabled . . .
medical severity of your impairment(s). If you have an impairment(s) that meets or