FOCUS: WHY I AM DISABLED; NOT WHY I CAN'T GET A JOB

The Social Security Act provides benefits for long term disability.  It does not provide benefits for unemployment or the inability to get a job.  

Here are some examples of employment problems which have nothing to do with disability or Social Security:

•  Nobody will hire me.
• My job skills are ancient.
• The economy has tanked.
• The jobs I used to do have now moved to Mexico or overseas.
• The jobs I could once do are now done by machines.
• There are no jobs in my field (or in my hometown, etc.)

The above statements have nothing to do with Social Security and will never result in a Social Security benefit.  They are not disability issues, they are unemployment issues.

We need to focus on why you are disabled, not why you can't get a job.

We have to focus on specific limitations in the ability to perform work related activity.  These limitations, for example, could include a restriction in the ability to:

• sit for prolonged periods
• stand/walk for prolonged periods
• lift or carry
• remember, understand or carry out instructions
• concentrate or stay focused
• respond appropriately to co-workers or supervisors

The above items are examples of restricted functional capacity which may be a disability.  
Social Security is like any other court in the land,  in that, you must prove a certain allegation using admissible evidence according to the governing regulations.  In the case of Social Security disability, you must prove your inability to perform full time work activity using medical evidence from an accepted medical source (doctor, psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, etc.).  

See more information about Social Security disabiity.

"I must focus on why I am disabled, not why I can't get a job."