Opinion ID: 766970
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Meaning of Past Relevant Work

Text: 96 As indicated above, to satisfy the statutory definition of disability, a claimant must be not only unable to do [her] previous work but also unable to engage in any other kind of substantial gainful work which exists in the national economy, 42 U.S.C. 1382c(a)(3)(B). The issue addressed in the fourth step of the five-step sequential inquiry required by the SSA regulations, i.e., whether the claimant can perform her former relevant work, not only corresponds to the first part of the definition but also may provide insight into the claimant's ability to perform other kinds of substantial gainful work. SSA regulations and policy rulings (Social Security Rulings or SSRs) reflect this dual significance. A regulation explains that [t]he work that you have done during any period in which you believe you are disabled may show that you are able to do work at the substantial gainful activity level. 20 C.F.R. 416.971 (1999); see also SSR 968p, Policy Interpretation Ruling Titles II and XVI: Assessing Residual Functional Capacity in Initial Claims (SSR 968p), 1996 WL 374184, at  (S.S.A. July 2, 1996) (In disability determinations and decisions made at steps 4 and 5 of the sequential evaluation process ... the individual's ability to do past relevant work and other work must be considered ....). 97 A number of the policy statements and regulations expressly address a claimant's residual functional capacity, or RFC, to do past relevant work, or PRW, terms they define partially in terms of substantial gainful activity, or SGA. Thus, SSR 968p states that 98 RFC is what an individual can still do despite his or her limitations.... Ordinarily, RFC is the individual's maximum remaining ability to do sustained work activities in an ordinary work setting on a regular and continuing basis, and the RFC assessment must include a discussion of the individual's abilities on that basis. A regular and continuing basis means 8 hours a day, for 5 days a week, or an equivalent work schedule. 99 SSR 968p, 1996 WL 374184, at . This policy statement adds that even if the claimant cannot work the equivalent of 8 hours a day, for 5 days a week, [p]arttime work that was substantial gainful activity, performed within the past 15 years, and lasted long enough for the person to learn to do it constitutes past relevant work, and an individual who retains the RFC to perform such work must be found not disabled. Id. at n.2 (emphasis added). 100 In Social Security Ruling 8262, Titles II and XVI: A Disability Claimant's Capacity to Do Past Relevant Work, In General (SSR 8262), 1982 WL 31386 (S.S.A. 1982), the SSA sought [t]o state the policy and explain the procedures for determining a disability claimant's capacity to do past relevant work (PRW) as set forth in the regulations, id., 1982 WL 31386, at , and to explain when past work is relevant. It stated that [i]n the fourth step of th[e sequential evaluation] process, consideration is given to the individual's capacity to perform PRW, and that in order for the SSA to find the claimant disabled, it must find that her 'impairment ... prevent[s] [her] from doing past relevant work.' Id. (quoting 20 C.F.R. 404.1520(e), 416.920(e)). This SSR adds: 101 We consider that your work experience applies [i.e., is relevant] when it was done within the last 15 years, lasted long enough for you to learn to do it, and was substantial gainful activity [SGA]. 102 SSR 8262, 1982 WL 31386, at  (quoting 20 C.F.R. 404.1565(a), 416.965(a) (brackets in SSR 8262) (emphasis ours)). Social Security Ruling 868, Titles II and XVI: The Sequential Evaluation Process (SSR 868), 1986 WL 68636 (S.S.A. 1986), superseded in irrelevant part by SSR 917c, Supplemental Security Income--Disability Standards for Children, 1991 WL 231791 (S.S.A. Aug. 1, 1991), similarly states that [w]ork experience is relevant when it was performed within the pertinent 15year period, lasted long enough for the individual to learn the job, and consisted of SGA. SSR 868, 1986 WL 68636, at  (emphasis added). 103 As to the meaning of substantial gainful activity, or SGA, SSR 8262 states that 104 [t]he adjudicative criteria for determining whether a person has done substantial and gainful work activity are explained in sections 404.1571-404.1575 and 416.971-416.975 of the regulations. 105 SSR 8262, 1982 WL 31386, at . The regulations to which SSR 8262 refers state, inter alia, that work is to be considered substantial if it involves doing significant physical or mental activities, 20 C.F.R. 416.972(a), and is to be considered gainful if it is the kind of work usually done for pay or profit, whether or not a profit is realized, id. 416.972(b). The regulations state that the SSA use[s] several guides to decide whether the work [the claimant has] done shows that [she is] able to do substantial gainful activity, including the provenance of the claimant's earnings. 20 C.F.R. 416.974(a). In this connection, the SSA indicates that neither poorly performed work nor minimally valuable make-work is to be considered substantial gainful activity: 106 We consider how well you do your work when we determine whether or not you are doing substantial gainful activity.... If you are doing work that involves minimal duties that make little or no demands on you and that are of little or no use to your employer, ... this does not show that you are working at the substantial gainful activity level. 107 20 C.F.R. 416.973(b) (emphases added). Thus, although stating the caveat that insubstantiality of earnings does not necessarily indicate that the claimant is not able to do substantial gainful activity, the SSA states, [w]e do not consider any income not directly related to your productivity when we decide whether you have done substantial gainful activity. Id. 416.974(a)(2) (emphasis added). As an example, that regulation states that [i]f your earnings are being subsidized, the amount of the subsidy is not counted when we determine whether or not your work is substantial gainful activity, and if the employer does not set the amount of the subsidy or does not adequately explain how the subsidy was figured, we will investigate to see how much your work is worth. Id. (emphasis added). 108 The assessment ability [sic] to engage in SGA involves the evaluation of such factors as the functional capacity to perform the physical or mental exertion of work and to sustain work at a level which meets the standards of SGA on a regular and continuing basis. In all such cases where a determination or decision regarding disability is to be made, the evidence must be sufficient to permit a comparison between the claimant's capabilities and limitations and the requirements of relevant occupations. 109 SSR 868, 1986 WL 68636, at . 110 In sum, as we read the above SSRs and regulations, step four of the sequential process requires an inquiry into the claimant's ability to do her past relevant work; a claimant's past work experience, especially part-time work, is not relevant unless, inter alia, it was substantial gainful activity; and a proper assessment of whether past work was substantial gainful activity requires evaluation of, inter alia, how well the claimant performed her duties, whether those duties were minimal and made little or no demand on her, what her work was worth to the employer, and whether her income was tied to her productivity. 111