Sedentary Work

The SSA evaluates the physical exertion requirements for jobs in the national economy by classifying jobs as sedentary, light, medium, heavy, and very heavy. Under their definition, sedentary work is "work which requires lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and occasionally lifting or carrying articles like docket files, ledgers, and small tools." Sedentary jobs may require walking and standing.

In the disability evaluation process the SSA will evaluate your residual capacity to work and determine what is the most work you can do on a regular and continual basis (eight hours a day, five days a week). The evaluation will be done by analyzing your current medical records. If the SSA determines you have the capacity to do medium work, the assumption is you can do light and sedentary work too. If they believe you can do sedentary work they will expect you to find a sit down job. If you are trying to prove you are disabled, you need to understand what your RFC is, according to the SSA, and be able to prove you cannot do the work they suggest. Otherwise, they will deny you for "other work" and consider you not disabled.