SHOWING YOU CANNOT DO THE MENTAL DEMANDS OF UNSKILLED WORK

Unskilled work is the easiest work available from a mental perspective.  Sedentary work is the easiest work available form a physical or exertional perspective.  Yet, even unskilled sedentary work has mental demands which the worker must be able to sustain for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week or an equivalent schedule.  The inability to sustain the mental demands of work, even unskilled sedentary work, is justifiable reason to find that the person is disabled.
 
In Social Security disability cases, decision makers will often deny a claim on the supposition that the claimant can still perform unskilled, sedentary work.  Examples of such unskilled sedentary work might be a surveillance system monitor, or a document preparer.

The mental demands of unskilled sedentary work are defined by SSR 96-9p and SSR 85-15 in the federal regulations.  Those demands include the abilities (on a sustained basis) to understand, carry out, and remember simple instructions; to respond appropriately to supervision, coworkers, and usual work situations; and to deal with changes in a routine work setting.

The loss of any of the above abilities will substantially erode the occupational base for sedentary unskilled work and will, therefore, justify a finding of disability (and the award of benefits).

Note that in order to work, a person must be able to meet the mental demands of full time, remunerative work "on a sustained basis."  A sustained basis means 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, or an equivalent schedule.

The customary breaks that would be afforded during full-time unskilled work would be two 15 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch (meal) break during an 8 hour work day.  If additional breaks are required due to a physical or mental impairment, that may very well erode the occupational base and justify a finding of disability.  Other factors that could erode the occupational base would be excessive absences (more than 1 or 2 days per month), being off task for an excessive amount of time during the day, or being unable to deal with changes in a routine work setting.

These allegations must be supported by objective medical evidence.  It is helpful if a treating doctor or medical professional acceptable to Social Security provides additional opinion evidence as to the existence of and severity of any limitations.