Past Relevant Work

Cook County Attorney for Social Security Disability Benefits

At step 4, the government will evaluate the claimant’s capacity to do mental and physical work activities based on his or her medical limitations (residual functional capacity). If those limitations prevent the claimant from doing his or her past work, the analysis will move to step 5 of the Social Security disability eligibility process. If the claimant is able to do past work, he or she is not disabled. However, because child SSI benefits deal with claimants that have most likely never worked the disability evaluation process works differently. See below for some examples of past relevant work and how Social Security classifies these positions.

• Accountant
• Order Caller
• Bookkeeper
• Painter
• Caretaker
• Plumber
• Carpenter
• Post-Office Clerk
• Cashier
• Receptionist
• Cook
• Roofer
• Customer Service Representative
• Security Guard
• Data Entry Clerk
• Shipping Clerk
• Farmer
• Short Order Cook
• Janitor
• Surveillance System Monitor
• Kitchen Helper
• Telemarketer
• Nurse Assistant
• Warehouse Worker