Claimants under 50: Proving you cannot do sedentary work

Standing, walking, and sitting limitations

If you are under the age of 50, you will probably need to convince the Social Security Administration that you cannot perform most sedentary jobs to win benefits.  Evidence of limitations in your ability to perform the specific functions required by sedentary work is crucial.  Sedentary jobs require a certain capacity to sit, walk, and stand, among other requirements.  Proof that you lack the minimum capacity to perform these functions can establish that there are few sedentary jobs that you can perform.

Standing and walking restrictions

For the most part, sedentary work requires the capacity to stand and walk intermittently for a total of two hours of an eight-hour workday. Any significant reduction in your ability to do this will decrease the range of sedentary jobs that may be available to you.

If you need to use a cane, the number of sedentary jobs you can do will be limited because sedentary work requires that you be able to retrieve and return objects. With only one hand free, you may not be able to carry some objects encountered on sedentary jobs.

The need to lie down during the work day will further restrict the pool of sedentary jobs you can do.  Few sedentary jobs will accommodate the need to lie down.

Sitting limitations

The ability to sit for prolonged periods of time, approximately six hours of an eight-hour work day, is necessary to do most sedentary work.

The sedentary jobs you are capable of performing will be considerably reduced if you need to alternate periods of sitting with periods of standing. Depending on the frequency and duration of your need to get up, this limitation may be disabling.

Similarly, you may need to walk around from time to time.  Depending the frequency and duration of the need to walk around, this restriction can eliminate many sedentary jobs because it will take you away from your work station.

You may need to periodically elevate one or both legs.  Depending on how high your legs need to be elevated and for how long during the day, this limitation can also significantly reduce the number of sedentary jobs that you can perform.

An Ocala disability lawyer can help assess your standing and sitting limitations and their impact on your ability to work. Call (352) 304-5300 to arrange for a free consultation with experienced Ocala Social Security disability attorney Claudeth J. Henry.