How Social Security Defines Skilled, Semi-Skilled, & Unskilled Work

When the Social Security Administration (SSA) reviews your file for permanent disability, they’re not only looking for evidence of disability but also your skill level. This is an important factor in determining whether you’ll receive benefits or should seek a new line of work.

Generally speaking, workers with the most job skills are presumed to be more capable of finding alternative employment than less-skilled workers. Therefore, they typically have a much more difficult time collecting benefits. Many require the help of a Los Angeles disability attorney to continue receiving the payments they need.

Here’s how Social Security defines skilled and unskilled work.

Defining Skill Levels for Social Security Disability Eligibility

The SSA utilizes three categories to classify the skill levels of the various types of work in the vast workplace: skilled work, semi-skilled work, and unskilled work.

Unskilled Jobs

“What is an unskilled worker?” is a common question. Unskilled workers are those required to use little to no judgment of their own. The tasks they perform can easily be learned on the job without previous experience.

Some unskilled labor examples include:

• Parking lot attendant
• Janitor
• Fast food worker
• Dishwasher

One general rule that’s often used to determine whether a worker is unskilled is to consider whether their duties can be learned in less than 30 days.

Semi-Skilled Employment

What does semi-skilled mean? Jobs involving semi-skilled labor require few skills and typically aren’t complex. Positions necessitating rapid hand and foot motions may also be classified as semi-skilled.

What is a semi-skilled job, and what is a semi-skilled worker? The following are examples of semi-skilled workers:

• Retail workers
• Airline flight attendants
• Cab drivers and chauffeurs
• File clerks
• Waitstaff

If you have a history as a semi-skilled worker, the SSA will likely find that you have some capacity to work other jobs.

Skilled Employment

What is skilled labor? This is work that requires the application of judgment and decision-making. Some skilled work requires advanced calculations, while others involve complex measurements and problem-solving.

Generally, skilled work requires at least six months of education. It also implies that a claimant has transferable skills that might carry over to another workplace.

What is a skilled worker? Examples include:

• Reps at sales companies
• Nurses
• Secretaries
• Travel agents
• Mortgage workers

Because they possess the widest range of abilities, skilled workers have a harder time with disability applications due to the number of jobs they can potentially perform.

What Are Specific Vocational Preparation Ratings?

The SSA uses Specific Vocational Preparation ratings to assign skill levels to workers. Each SVP tells the SSA how long, on average, it takes someone to learn a skill.

If you have previous work experience in skilled work, you’ll likely be required to work.

Understanding How the SSA Uses Skill Levels and SVP Numbers

The SSA uses the skill levels found in the SVP numbers to match workers with potentially suitable forms of work. By comparing jobs with similar SVP numbers, the SSA can present an applicant with various options depending on the skill level of the jobs represented in their past work.

As mentioned, the higher the assessed skill level, the more jobs there are available for the worker in question. But for those who reach the age of 50, the rules relax.

Workers 50 and older can take advantage of the grid rules, which take into account their age and difficulty in finding work. However, younger workers cannot avail themselves of the grid rules, nor can claimants with a “mental only” claim.

We Can Help with Your Social Security Disability Benefits Application and Appeal

Kenton Koszdin Law Office has assisted thousands with disability claims. Contact an experienced disability attorney today to get started!