Washington Administrative Code
Title 388 - Social and Health Services, Department of
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Chapter 388-449 - Aged, blind, or disabled
Section 388-449-0100 - Sequential evaluation process step V - How does the department evaluate if I can perform other work when determining disability?

Universal Citation: WA Admin Code 388-449-0100

Current through Register Vol. 24-06, March 15, 2024

If we decide you cannot do work that you have done before, we consider your age, education, and other factors to decide if you have the residual functional capacity to perform other work.

(1) We evaluate education in terms of formal schooling or other training to acquire skills that enable you to meet job requirements. We classify education as:

If you

Then your education level is

(a) Can't read or write a simple communication, such as two sentences or a list of items.

Illiterate

(b) Have no formal schooling or vocational training beyond the sixth grade.

Marginal education

(c) Have no formal schooling or vocational training beyond the eleventh grade; or

(d) Had participated in special education in basic academic classes of reading, writing or mathematics in high school.

Limited education

(e) Have received a high school diploma or general equivalency degree (GED) and don't meet the special education definition in (d) above; or

(f) Have received skills training and were awarded a certificate, degree or license.

High school and above level of education

(2) We approve disability when you have a moderate, marked, or severe physical health impairment and you meet the criteria below:

Exertional level

Your age

Your education level

Work history

Nonexertional and functional limitations

Restricted to less than sedentary

Any age

Any level

Does not apply

Does not apply

Restricted to sedentary

Any age

Any level

Does not apply

You have nonexertional or functional impairments that preclude all sedentary work

Restricted to sedentary

Fifty and older

Any level

Does not apply

Does not apply

Restricted to sedentary

Forty-five and older

Marginal education, illiterate, or unable to communicate in English

Unskilled or none

Does not apply

Restricted to light

Any age

Any level

Does not apply

You have nonexertional or functional impairments that preclude all sedentary work

Restricted to light

Fifty and older

Marginal education or unable to communicate in English

Does not apply

Does not apply

(3) We approve disability when you have a moderate, marked, or severe mental impairment and you meet the criteria below:

Your age

Your education

Work history

Social and cognitive limitations

Any age

Any level

Any level

Substantial loss of ability to:

Understand, remember, and persist in tasks by following very short and simple instructions;

Perform activities within a schedule, maintain regular attendance, and be punctual within customary tolerances without special supervision;

Perform routine tasks without special supervision;

Adapt to changes in a routine work setting;

Make simple work-related decisions;

Be aware of normal hazards and take appropriate precautions;

Ask simple questions or request assistance;

Communicate and perform effectively in a work setting;

Complete a normal workday and workweek without interruptions from psychologically based symptoms; or

Maintain appropriate behavior in a work setting.

Fifty and older

Any level

Any level

Substantial loss of ability to:

Understand, remember, and persist in tasks by following detailed instructions;

Set realistic goals and plan independently; or

Learn new tasks.

(4) "Substantial loss of ability" means you are not able to perform the particular activity in regular competitive employment or outside of a sheltered work setting.

(5) We approve disability when you have both mental and physical impairments, with an overall severity that is moderate, marked, or severe, and you meet the criteria below:

Your age

Your education level

Exertional level

Social and cognitive limitations

Other vocational factors

Any age

Any level

Restricted to light or less

You have a substantial loss of ability to:

Communicate and perform effectively in a work setting; or

Maintain appropriate behavior in a work setting.

No transferable skills to work level

Fifty or older

Limited education or unable to communicate in English

Restricted to light or less

Does not apply

No transferable skills to work level

Any age

Marginal education, illiterate, or unable to communicate in English

Restricted to medium or less

You have a substantial loss of ability to:

Communicate and perform effectively in a work setting with limited public contact; or

Maintain appropriate behavior in a work setting.

No transferable skills to work level

(6) If you don't meet the criteria listed above, and there are jobs you can do in the national economy, we will find you able to perform other work and take the following actions:

(a) Deny disability; and

(b) Give you examples of jobs you can do in the national economy despite your impairments(s).

(7) If there are no jobs you can do in the national economy despite your impairment(s), we approve disability.

Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.005, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, 74.08A.100, 74.04.770, 74.04.0052, 74.04.655, 74.08.043, 74.08.335, and 2011 1st sp.s. c 36. 12-10-042, § 388-449-0100, filed 4/27/12, effective 6/1/12.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Washington may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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