How Can Concentration Issues Affect a Social Security Disability Claim?

 Posted on December 09, 2022 in Social Security Disability

There are numerous conditions that may limit a person's ability to maintain gainful employment, and when these issues are severe enough, a person may qualify for Social Security disability benefits. However, when applying for disability benefits, a person will need to demonstrate that their condition has limited their ability to work. Multiple factors may be evaluated when determining whether a specific condition is considered to be a disability, and in many cases, a key issue to address will be whether a person can maintain concentration, persistence, and pace while working. Understanding exactly what this means and demonstrating how concentration and pacing issues affect you can be crucial to secure the necessary benefits.

How Does Social Security Address Concentration, Persistence, and Pace?

During the disability evaluation process, Social Security will determine a person's residual functional capacity (RFC), which looks at the extent to which a person can perform work activities and the limitations that have been placed upon them due to their physical or mental condition. One key issue to address in an RFC evaluation is whether a person can maintain concentration, persistence, and pace while working. 

When assessing an individual's ability to focus and maintain pace, Social Security will consider whether a person can:

• Concentrate on tasks throughout the workday, including initiating new tasks when appropriate and performing different types of activities that they know how to do.

• Stay focused on tasks for an appropriate length of time and ensure that work can be completed correctly.

• Maintain an appropriate pace while working despite distractions.

• Switch tasks or move to new settings in a non-disruptive manner.

• Work alongside others without causing interruptions or disrupting their work.

• Follow regular routines and maintain consistent attendance when scheduled to work.

• Work throughout the day without needing to take more breaks than have been allotted.

• Complete assigned duties in a timely manner.

In many cases, concentration, persistence, and pace will be a factor in the evaluation of mental health conditions. For example, a person who has been diagnosed with severe anxiety may be unable to focus on their work, and they may be unable to complete assigned tasks in a timely fashion. However, these issues can also affect people with physical conditions as well. For example, a person who suffers from extreme fatigue due to a blood disorder such as anemia may be unable to work for extended periods, or they may require regular breaks, which may affect their ability to maintain employment.

There are a variety of other issues that may be related to concentration, persistence, and pace that may help determine whether a person is disabled. These include the ability to understand and remember information related to workplace tasks, the ability to interact appropriately with coworkers or customers, and the ability to adapt to changes in the workplace and manage behavior to ensure that tasks can be completed correctly. These factors may combine to affect a person's ability to work, and if they prevent a person from maintaining gainful employment, the person will most likely qualify for disability benefits.

Contact Our Chicago Social Security Disability Claim Lawyer

Understanding how issues related to concentration, persistence, and pace may be addressed when applying for Social Security disability benefits can make all the difference when determining whether your claim will be approved or denied. By demonstrating the limitations that have affected you during the evaluation process, you can show Social Security that you meet the requirements to qualify for disability benefits. At Pearson Disability Law, LLC, our Illinois Social Security disability application attorney can provide invaluable guidance during the application process, and we can also help you determine how to respond if your claim has been denied. Contact us at 312-999-0999 to schedule a free consultation today.

Sources:

https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/12.00-MentalDisorders-Adult.htm

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK220746/