Disability Determination - Step 5

Updated on: 10/21/2026

WAC 388-449-0100 Sequential Evaluation Process step V — How does the department evaluate if I can perform other work when determining disability?

​Clarifying Information

  1. If an individual is not approved at Step 3 and not denied at Steps 1, 2, or 4 of the Sequential Evaluation Process (SEP), the Disability Specialist determines if the individual can perform other work.

  2. When determining if the individual is capable of performing other work, the Disability Specialist gives full consideration to the individual's residual functional capacity, age, education, and work experience.

    Note
    The Social Security Administration (SSA) defines residual functional capacity (RFC)as the most the individual can do despite their impairment based on an assessment of an individual's ability to do sustained work-related physical and mental activities in a work setting on a regular and continuing basis. A "Regular and continuing basis" means 8 hours a day, for 5 days a week, or an equivalent work schedule. See SSR 96-8p for additional details.
  3. If the individual meets the approval criteria detailed in the Physical, Mental, or Combination tables in WAC 388-449-0100, they are considered unable to perform other work and ABD is approved.
  4. If the individual does not meet the ABD approval criteria detailed in the Physical, Mental, or Combination tables, the Disability Specialist determines whether the individual is capable of performing at least two jobs available in the national economy.
  5. If the Disability Specialist determines the individual is capable of performing other work available in the national economy, the Disability Specialist must list at least two specific jobs from the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) that the individual is able to perform given their residual functional capacity, age, education, and work experience.
  6. If the Disability Specialist cannot identify at least two examples of jobs the individual can perform despite their impairment, ABD is approved.
Note

The Social Security Administration (SSA) defines jobs in the national economy as those that exist in significant numbers either in the region where someone lives or across multiple regions of the country. See Code of Federal Regulations § 416.966 for additional details.

Isolated jobs that exist only in very limited numbers or only in a few regions across the United States are not considered work which exists in the national economy. 

Example: Charlie applied for ABD. They live in downtown Seattle. A worker would not list desert cactus farmer as one of the jobs they can perform even if it is a job they have performed in the past. Desert cactus farmer jobs exist in limited numbers and in few locations regionally across the United States. When selecting jobs in the national economy a person can perform, it is also important to consider the region where someone lives and available jobs. Workers would choose a job that has similar tasks and exertional levels to cactus farming, such as gardener or field worker.