DISABILITY BECASE YOU CAN'T MEET MENTAL DEMANDS OF WORK

The basic mental demands of competitive, remunerative, unskilled work 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.  (SSR 85-15).

If a person has mental impairments that preclude the above functioning, they meet the definition of disabled.

Any number of psychological problems can cause problems with meeting the mental demands of work.  Some common impairments would include anxiety, depression, panic disorder, PTSD, 
adjustment disorder, schizophrenia, paranoia and others.

Sometimes a physical impairment can result in a failure to meet the mental demands of work.  A good example would be pain.  If an individual has severe pain from a physical ailment, that certainly could have an adverse impact on the ability to carry out the mental demands of work:   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.

SSR 85-15 states that a failure in the ability to meet the basic mental demands of work cannot be offset by younger age, a university education or work experience.  In short, a young person with a college degree and a great resume is disabled when he or she cannot meet the specified mental demands of unskilled work.

How does one document the inability to meet mental demands of work?  By examination and treatment with either a licensed psychologist or a psychiatrist.  It will be most useful if the doctor will also provide a statement of the claimant's residual functional capacity that documents these limitations in mental function.  Form HA-1152 is the form that Social Security prefers.