’WPC  ¾fīYH›_k_„“ 3”‹ķ-%ŌT½ƒ•'š?źIߏ(æM’?sa™XƒÄ+N. GÅDĶō½˜įȧ9)%™ņv}X„·v'lĖIųøjŁY5¾K\‹2ćĄC(ŹCµ}h Z#ĮģUN­ %ū 0( f) a+ ^ ? wK 4O c r mt U,‹ 0D· Nū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū ū Bż ˜HP PSC 5000(,,,,0(0(  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX($””ĘTABLE AJ*g* œ]‡)¼µ„ED@@…3|x ’U‹’ĄĄĄ,†r‰AZ‹Arial (3Æ$§§Ż ƒ!ŻŻ  Ż dŻ ƒ!ŻŻ  ŻŌ_ŌŃ °ŃŌ‡ XČXXXŌŃ  Ńą@$$ģąŌ‡ ¼#ņ»X XČŌņ ņFEDERAL€COURTS€LAW€REVIEW€„„€1998€Fed.€Cts.€L.€Rev.€5ó óŌ#† XČX» ¼#ņv#ŌˆŠ ° ŠĢŌ*‹ƒYddd Xdd Xdd X°(#°(#‹ŌŌ,“xx ŌŌ,Äxx ŌŌ+  ŌŠ °° €€ Šņ ņ"Transferability€of€Skills"€and€theŠ d ŠMedical-Vocational€Guidelines€UnderŠ X Šthe€Social€Security€Actó óŠ üL ŠĢŌ‡ &tŸ%X XČŌByŠ Ü , ŠHon.€Dennis€G.€Katz(1)Š “  ŠU.S.€Administrative€Law€Judge,€Office€ofŠ Œ Ü  ŠHearings€and€Appeals,€Social€SecurityŠ d “  ŠAdministration,€Bronx,€New€York.Š <Œ  ŠŌ#† XČX% &tŸ˜#ŌĢņ ņAbstractó óŠ P  ŠĢŌ‡ ĀcĀX XČŌ[A.1]€€In€the€evaluation€of€a€disability€claim€under€theŠ ą0  ŠSocial€Security€Act,€the€Social€Security€AdministrationŠ ą  Š(SSA)€must€determine€the€claimant's€capacity€forŠ @ Šemployment.€If€the€claimant€is€no€longer€able€toŠ š@ Šperform€his€or€her€previous€work€due€to€medicalŠ  š Šimpairments,€to€determine€whether€the€claimant€canŠ P  Šperform€other€work€in€the€economy,€the€SSA€mustŠ P Šconsider€the€entire€vocational€profile€of€the€claimant.€Š ° ŠThis€includes€the€claimant's€functional€abilities,€age,Š `° Šeducation€and€prior€work€experience.€In€evaluating€priorŠ ` Šwork€experience,€the€SSA€must,€under€the€regulations,Š Ą Šdetermine€whether€or€not€the€claimant€acquired€workŠ pĄ Šskills€that€could€be€used€in€other€jobs€("transferableŠ  p Šskills")€because€such€skills€would€tend€to€make€theŠ Š  Šworker€more€employable.Š €Š ŠĢ[A.2]€€To€aid€€SSA€adjudicators€in€deciding€whetherŠ ą0 Šclaimants€can€€perform€other€work€in€the€nationalŠ ą  Šeconomy,€the€SSA€has€taken€€administrative€notice€ofŠ @! Šthe€many€unskilled€jobs€that€exist€in€the€nationalŠ š@" Šeconomy€and€has€published€regulations€(contained€inŠ  š# Šthe€Medical-Vocational€Guidelines)€("Guidelines")€forŠ P  $ Šdetermining€if€persons€with€specified€vocational€profilesŠ !P% Š(sometimes€called€the€"grids")€can€or€cannot€performŠ °!& Šsuch€jobs.€If€claimants€cannot€perform€such€unskilledŠ `"°' Šjobs,€they€are€considered€"disabled";€if€they€are€able€toŠ #`( Šperform€such€jobs,€they€are€deemed€"not€disabled."Š Ą#) ŠĢ[A.3]€€The€Guidelines€(which€evaluate€the€claimant'sŠ  %p + Šability€to€perform€unskilled€work€only)€neverthelessŠ Š% !, Šconsider€the€"transferability"€of€the€claimant's€acquiredŠ €&Š!- Šskills€in€evaluating€whether€the€claimant€is€"disabled"€orŠ 0'€". Š"not€disabled."€This€appears€to€be€inconsistent€withŠ ą'0#/ Šother€SSA€regulations,€which€prohibit€consideration€ofŠ (ą#0 Šclaimants'€prior€skilled€work€when€determining€whetherŠ @)$1 Šor€not€the€claimants€can€perform€unskilled€work.Š š)@%2 ŠĢ[A.4]€€To€protect€the€rights€under€the€Act€of€claimantsŠ P+ &4 Šwith€transferrable€skills,€SSA€adjudicators€shouldŠ ,P'5 Šconsider€obtaining€expert€vocational€testimonyŠ °,(6 Šdescribing€such€claimants'€transferable€skills,€the€jobsŠ `-°(7 Šin€which€those€skills€can€be€used,€and€the€number€ofŠ .`)8 Šsuch€jobs€in€the€national€and€regional€economies.Ō#† XČXĀ Ācķ#ŌŠ  Ą.*9 „„Šņ ņTable€of€Contentsó óŠ d: ŠĢ1.ą0 4 ąBackground€ŠōD<4°"4°" ŠĢ2.ą0 4 ąProcedure€for€evaluatingŠĢ >4°"4°" Šą0 4 ą€disability€claimsŠø ?4°"4°" Š3.ą0 4 ąTransferability€of€skills€andŠ¤ ō@4°"4°" Šą0 4 ąthe€Grid€TablesŠ ąA4°"4°" ŠĢ4.ą0 4 ąProblems€with€TransferabilityŠ hø C Šand€the€GuidelinesŠT¤ D4°"4°" ŠĢ5.ą0 4 ąConclusionŠ1'%,| F4°"4°"  1ŠŠ   /š*F ŠŌ Ōņ ņ1.ą  ąBackgroundó óŠ ° ŠĢ[1.1]€The€Social€Security€Act€[42€U.S.C.€šš301€et€seq.]€("Act")(2)€establishes€twoŠ ą Šprograms€to€compensate€persons€suffering€from€disabilities:Š |Ģ ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ą(A)€The€Social€Security€Disability€Insurance€ProgramŠ T ¤ Š(SSDI),€established€by€Title€II€of€the€Act€[42€U.S.C.€401€etŠ @  Šseq.]€€,€is€a€program€of€social€insurance€under€whichŠ , | Šcovered€employees€and€their€employers€pay€taxes€into€aŠ  h Šspecial€fund€administered€separately€from€the€generalŠ  T  Šfederal€revenues€to€purchase€protection€against€theŠ š @  Šeconomic€consequences€of€old€age,€disability€and€death.Š Ü,  ŠSSDI€provides€benefits€to€workers€who€have€contributed€toŠ Č  Šthe€SSDI€program€who€have€become€disabled.Š“ ` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ą(B)€The€Supplemental€Security€Income€Program€("SSI"),Š ŒÜ  Šestablished€by€Title€XVI€[42€U.S.C.€šš1381,€et€seq.]€of€the€ActŠ xČ Što€provide€benefits€to€indigent€disabled€persons,€is€aŠ d“ Šprogram€to€assist€individuals€who€have€attained€age€65€orŠ P  Šare€blind€or€disabled€by€setting€a€guaranteed€minimumŠ <Œ Šincome€level€for€such€persons.€SSI€provides€benefits€toŠ (x Šdisabled€persons€whose€income€and€financial€resources€areŠ d Šbelow€a€certain€level€[42€U.S.C.€šš1382(a)].ŠP` x` x ŠĢ[1.2]€€Section€223(d)(1)(A)€of€the€Act€[42€U.S.C.€šš423]€defines€"disability"€as:Š Ų( ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąinability€to€engage€in€any€substantial€gainful€activity€byŠ ° Šreason€of€any€medically€determinable€physical€or€mentalŠ œģ Šimpairment€which€can€be€expected€to€result€in€death€orŠ ˆŲ Šwhich€has€lasted€or€can€be€expected€to€last€for€a€continuousŠ tÄ Šperiod€of€not€less€than€12€months.€.€.€.€Š` °` x` x ŠĢ[1.3]€€The€Act€adopts€a€functional€approach€to€adult€disability:€the€definition€ofŠ 8"ˆ  Š"disability"€as€it€pertains€to€adults(3)€is€related€to€an€individualized,€functional€inquiryŠ $#t! Šinto€the€effect€of€medical€problems€on€a€person's€ability€to€work.Š $`" ŠĢņ ņ2.ą  ąProcedure€for€evaluating€disability€claimsó óŠ č%8!$ Š€€€€Š Ü&,"% Š[2.1]€€SSA€Regulations€("Regulations")€establish€a€five-step€sequential€evaluationŠ Č'#& Šprocess€for€determining€the€question€of€disability.€A€finding€of€"disability"€orŠ “($' Š"non-disability"€at€any€point€in€the€process€completes€the€evaluation.€The€claimant€hasŠ  )š$( Šthe€burden€of€proving€the€existence€of€a€disability€[€20€Ō_ŌC.F.R.Ō_Ō€šš404.1512(a)].Š Œ*Ü%) ŠĢ[2.2]€€The€first€step€of€the€process€involves€an€inquiry€into€whether€or€not€the€claimantŠ d,“'+ Šhas€engaged€in€substantial€gainful€[work]€activity€("SGA")€during€the€period€of€time€atŠ P- (, Šissue.€To€make€this€determination,€both€the€claimant's€testimony€and€the€claimant'sŠ <.Œ)- Šā āearnings€record€on€file€with€the€SSA€are€evaluated€to€determine€whether€or€not€theŠ (/x*. Šclaimant€has€engaged€in€any€work€activity€through€the€date€the€adjudication€is€made;€ifŠ ° Šnot,€the€adjudicator€moves€to€the€next€step€of€the€process.Š œģ Šā āĢ[2.3]€€At€the€second€step€of€the€sequential€evaluation€process,€the€SSA€must€determineŠ tÄ Šif€the€claimant€has€a€medically€determinable(4)€impairment€(or€combination€ofŠ `° Šimpairments)€that€is€"severe"€within€the€meaning€of€the€Act€[i.e.,€whether€the€impairmentŠ L œ Š"significantly€limits"€the€claimant's€"physical€or€mental€ability€to€do€basic€work€activities"Š 8 ˆ Š[€20€C.F.R.€šš404.1520(c)].€The€claimant€has€the€obligation€to€furnish€medical€and€otherŠ $ t Ševidence€to€substantiate€the€existence€of€a€medical€impairment€and€its€effect€on€his/herŠ  ` Šability€to€work€on€a€sustained€basis€[€20€C.F.R.€šš404.1512(a)].€An€impairment€is€"notŠ ü L  Šsevere"€if€it€has€no€more€than€a€minimal€effect€on€an€individual's€ability€to€perform€basicŠ č 8  Šwork€activities.€In€determining€whether€an€impairment€is€"severe,"€the€SSA€mustŠ Ō$  Šconsider€any€symptoms€that€are€reasonably€related€to€an€individual's€medicallyŠ Ą  Šdeterminable€impairment(s)€[20€C.F.R.€šš404.1521(a),€€šš404.1529,€€šš416.921,Š ¬ü  Ššš416.929)].€The€SSA€must€also€determine€whether€the€impairment€meets€the€"duration"Š ˜č  Šrequirement€of€the€Act;€that€is,€whether€the€impairment€has€lasted€(or€can€be€expectedŠ „Ō  Što€last)€for€more€than€12€months.Š pĄ ŠĢ[2.4]€€At€the€third€step€of€the€sequential€evaluation€process,€the€SSA€must€determineŠ H˜ Šwhether€or€not€the€claimant's€impairments€are€severe€enough€to€either€meet€or€equalŠ 4„ Šthe€medical€and€clinical€criteria€of€any€of€those€impairments€listed€in€Appendix€1€toŠ  p ŠSubpart€P€of€Part€404€of€the€Regulations€("Listings")(5),€which€have€been€establishedŠ  \ Šby€the€SSA€to€delineate€and€define€those€impairments€that€are€assumed€to€be€soŠ ųH Šsevere€that€they€would€prevent€an€adult-€regardless€of€age,€education€or€workŠ ä4 Šexperience-€from€performing€any€gainful€activity,€not€just€"substantial€gainful€activity."(6)€Š Š  ŠĢ[2.5]€€In€the€event€an€adult€claimant€is€not€found€to€be€disabled€at€Step€3,€the€claimant'sŠ Øų Šresidual€functional€capacity€("RFC")€must€be€formulated€and€determined€at€the€fourthŠ ”ä Šstep€of€the€sequential€evaluation€in€order€to€determine€whether€the€claimant€is€capableŠ €Š Šof€performing€his/her€past€relevant€work€("PRW")€or€any€other€work€that€exists€inŠ l¼ Šsignificant€numbers€in€the€national€or€regional€economies.€PRW€is€defined€by€theŠ X Ø ŠCommissioner's€Regulations€[€20€C.F.R.€šš404.1565€and€€šš416.925]€as€work€experienceŠ D!” Šwithin€the€last€15€years€based€on€the€understanding€that€a€gradual€change€occurs€inŠ 0"€  Šmost€jobs,€so€that€after€15€years€it€is€no€longer€realistic€to€expect€that€skills€and€abilitiesŠ #l! Šacquired€in€a€job€continue€to€apply,€because€it€is€considered€too€remote.Š $X" ŠĢ[2.6]€€If€the€claimant€has€established€an€inability€to€perform€past€relevant€work,€theŠ ą%0!$ Šburden€of€proof€shifts€at€the€fifth€step€to€the€Commissioner€to€establish€that€the€claimantŠ Ģ&"% Šretains€the€residual€functional€capacity€to€perform€other€jobs€that€exist€in€significantŠ ø'#& Šnumbers€in€the€national€or€regional€economies€given€the€claimant's€medicallyŠ ¤(ō#' Šdetermined€impairments,€functional€limitations,€age,€education€and€work€experience.(7)Š )ą$( ŠņņHall€v.€Chateróó,€109€F.3d€1255,€1259€(8th€Cir.€1997);€ņņAllen€v.€Ō_ŌCalifanoŌ_Ōóó,€613€F.2d€139,Š |*Ģ%) Š145€(6th€Cir.€1980).Š h+ø&* ŠĢ[2.7]€€To€assist€the€Commissioner€in€meeting€this€burden€of€proof,€the€SSA€has€takenŠ @-(, Šadministrative€notice€of€the€numerous€unskilled€jobs€("Grid€jobs")€that€exist€throughoutŠ ,.|)- Šthe€national€economy€at€the€various€functional€levels(8):€the€SSA€has€promulgated€theŠ /h*. ŠMedical-Vocational€Guidelines€found€at€20€C.F.R.€Part€404,€Appendix€2€to€Subpart€PŠ 0T+/ Š("Guidelines")(9)€to€serve€as€an€objective,€standardized€basis€for€decision€making€atŠ ° Šthe€fifth€step€of€the€evaluation€process€in€the€cases€of€claimants€who€haveŠ œģ Šexertional(10)€impairments€or€restrictions.(11)€Each€Guideline€is€expressed€by€terseŠ ˆŲ Šentries€on€a€"Medical-Vocational€grid"€in€terms€of€a€vocational€profile€consisting€ofŠ tÄ Š"age",€"education"€and€"previous€work€experience"€and€contains€a€"Decision"-Š `° Šexpressed€in€terms€of€"disabled"€or€"not€disabled"-€based€on€each€particular€profile.Š L œ ŠThese€Grid€rules€represent€the€determination€of€the€Commissioner,€arrived€at€by€takingŠ 8 ˆ Šadministrative€notice€of€relevant€vocational€data,€that€a€significant€number€of€unskilledŠ $ t Šjobs€exist€in€the€national€economy€are€capable€of€being€performed€by€persons€havingŠ  ` Šeach€profile,€at€each€level€of€residual€functional€capacity.€ņņChavez€v.€Department€ofŠ ü L  ŠHealth€and€Human€Servicesóó,€103€F.3d€849,€851€(9th€Cir.€1996).€It€is€important€to€noteŠ č 8  Šthat€the€Guidelines€only€apply€if€they€can€be€precisely€applied:€where€the€claimant€isŠ Ō$  Šnot€able€to€do€a€full€range€of€work€at€a€particular€Ō_ŌexertionalŌ_Ō€level,€the€Guidelines€do€notŠ Ą  Šprovide€any€presumption€concerning€the€availability€of€jobs€and€may€not€be€used.(12)Š ¬ü  ŠĢ[2.8]€€Step€five€of€the€sequential€analysis€requires€the€SSA€to€consider,€inter€alia,€theŠ „Ō  Šclaimant's€age€[€20€C.F.R.€šš404.1520(f))1),€€šš404.1563,€€šš416.920(f)(1)].€While€age€isŠ pĄ Šnot€presumed€to€seriously€affect€the€ability€to€adapt€to€new€work€situations€for€peopleŠ \¬ Šunder€age€50€[€20€C.F.R.€šš404.1563(b)],€the€Regulations€recognize€that€age,€inŠ H˜ Šconjunction€with€a€severe€impairment€and€limited€work€experience,€may€seriously€affectŠ 4„ Šthe€ability€of€persons€either€"approaching€advanced€age"€(i.e.,€50-54)€or€"of€advancedŠ  p Šage"€(i.e.,€55€and€over)€to€adjust€to€a€significant€number€of€jobs€in€the€economy.€TheŠ  \ ŠRegulations€implicitly€recognize€a€direct€relationship€between€age€and€the€likelihood€ofŠ ųH Šemployment:€as€a€claimant€ages,€it€becomes€increasingly€difficult€for€him/her€to€adapt€toŠ ä4 Šnew€work€environments€and€to€successfully€compete€with€younger,€healthier,Š Š  Šsimilarly-skilled€workers.€ņņTom€v.€Heckleróó,€779€F.2d€1250,€1257€n.11€(7th€Cir.€1985).€InŠ ¼  Šother€words,€the€number€of€available€jobs€substantially€decreases€for€a€claimant€of€ageŠ Øų Šfifty-five€and€up.€For€example,€where€a€claimant€of€advanced€age€with€a€"skilled€work"Š ”ä Šbackground€is€limited€to€sedentary€work,€the€regulations€require€that€there€be€littleŠ €Š Švocational€adjustment:Š l¼ ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąIn€order€to€find€transferability€of€skills€to€skilled€sedentaryŠ D!” Šwork€for€individuals€who€are€of€advanced€age€(55€and€over),Š 0"€  Šthere€must€be€very€little,€if€any,€vocational€adjustmentŠ #l! Šrequired€in€terms€of€tools,€work€processes,€work€settings,€orŠ $X" Šthe€industry.Šō$D #` x` x ŠĢ20€Ō_ŌC.F.R.Ō_Ō,€Part€404,€Subpt.€P,€App.€2,€Rule€201.00(f).Š Ģ&"% ŠĢ[2.9]€€Thus,€while€the€Regulations€might€mandate€a€finding€that€a€younger€claimant€isŠ ¤(ō#' Šnot€disabled€so€long€as€he/she€can€perform€unskilled€work€[see€20€Ō_ŌC.F.R.Ō_Ō€ššŠ )ą$( Š404.1565(a)],€the€same€is€not€true€of€claimants€of€advanced€age€(i.e.€55€or€over):€theŠ |*Ģ%) ŠRegulations€consider€this€age€bracket€as€"the€point€where€age€significantly€affects€aŠ h+ø&* Šperson's€ability€to€do€substantial€gainful€activity."€€20€C.F.R.€šš404.1563(d).€In€otherŠ T,¤'+ Šwords,€in€recognition€of€the€fact€that€older€people€are€generally€at€a€competitiveŠ @-(, Šdisadvantage€for€jobs,€the€proposed€work€for€an€"advanced€age"€claimant€must€not€onlyŠ ,.|)- Šā ābe€"less€demanding"€than€that€previously€performed€by€him/her€[20€Ō_ŌC.F.R.Ō_Ō€ššŠ /h*. Š404.1563(d)],€but€cannot€require€so€little€skill€that€anyone€at€all€could€do€it.€ņņTerry€v.Š ° ŠSullivanóó,€903€F.2d€1273,€1276€(9th€Cir.€1990).Š œģ Šā āĢņ ņ3.ą  ą"Transferability"€of€skills€and€the€Grid€Tablesó óŠ tÄ ŠĢ[3.1]€€At€step€five€of€the€evaluation€process,€consideration€is€given€to€the€impairedŠ T ¤ Šindividual's€capability€to€adjust€to€and€perform€other€work€which€differs€from€that€ofŠ @  Šhis/her€past€relevant€work€experience€or,€in€the€case€of€a€person€without€workŠ , | Šexperience,€the€capability€to€begin€to€work€for€the€first€time.(13)€The€GuidelinesŠ  h Šimplicitly€recognize€a€direct€relationship€between€the€skills€that€the€claimant€may€haveŠ  T  Šacquired€during€the€course€of€past€employment€and€the€likelihood€of€futureŠ š @  Šemployment-€the€theory€being€that€a€claimant€with€a€"skilled"€work€background€canŠ Ü,  Šmore€successfully€adapt€to€new€work€environments€and€thereby€has€a€competitiveŠ Č  Šadvantage€over€other€[unskilled]€workers.€To€that€end,€the€Commissioner€considersŠ “  Šwhether€or€not€the€claimant€has€skills€acquired€in€PRW€which€are€transferable(14)€toŠ  š  Šclosely€related€skilled€or€semi-skilled€work€with€little€or€no€vocational€adjustment.€WithŠ ŒÜ  Šthe€possible€assistance€of€a€VE,(15)€the€adjudicator€must€determine€if€the€claimant€hasŠ xČ Šacquired€any€skills€in€previous€jobs€and,€if€so,€whether€these€skills€are€transferable€andŠ d“ Šif€their€transfer€requires€any€vocational€adjustment.€ņņBurton€v.€Secretary€of€Health€andŠ P  ŠHuman€Servicesóó,€893€F.2d€821,€824€(6th€Cir.€1990).Š <Œ ŠĢ[3.2]€€The€question€of€"transferability"€is€not€a€mere€academic€exercise:€when€theŠ d ŠGuidelines€are€applicable€to€a€case,€the€existence€or€non-existence€of€"transferability"Š P Šcan€be€decisive€in€resolving€the€issue€of€"disability"€or€"non€disability".€For€example,Š ģ< ŠTable€No.€1€(which€deals€with€claimants€who€have€an€RFC€limited€to€sedentary€work€asŠ Ų( Ša€result€of€a€severe€medically€determinable€impairment)€sets€forth€several€categories€inŠ Ä Šwhich€the€issue€of€transferability€makes€a€crucial€difference€in€the€determination€ofŠ ° Šdisability:Š œģ ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ą(a)ą ø ąWith€respect€to€persons€of€"advanced€age"(16)€whoŠtÄ` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ą(Ō_ŌiŌ_Ō)ą0ø ` x` xąhave€a€"limited€education"€background(17)€and€haveŠ L!œ Šskilled€or€semiskilled€previous€work€experience€butŠ 8"ˆ  Šwhose€skills€are€not€transferable,€Rule€201.02€€€€€Š $#t! Šmandates€a€finding€of€"disabled";€however€RuleŠ $`" Š201.03€mandates€a€finding€of€€"not€disabled"€for€aŠ ü$L # Šsimilarly€situated€person€whose€skills€areŠ č%8!$ Štransferable.ŠŌ&$"%ø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ą(ii)ą0ø ` x` xąhave€a€full€high€school€education€(or€more)€and€haveŠ ¬(ü#' Šskilled€or€semiskilled€previous€work€experience€butŠ ˜)č$( Šwhose€skills€are€not€transferable,€Rule€201.06€€€€€Š „*Ō%) Šmandates€a€finding€of€"disabled";€however,€RuleŠ p+Ą&* Š201.07€mandates€a€finding€of€"not€disabled"€for€aŠ \,¬'+ Šsimilarly€situated€person€whose€skills€areŠ H-˜(, Štransferable.Š4.„)-ø xø x Šā āŠ  /p*. Šą8  ąą8` Š Š ą(b)ą8ø ` x` xąWith€respect€to€persons€"closely€approachingŠ ° Šā āadvanced€age"(18)€whoŠœģø ø  ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ą(Ō_ŌiŌ_Ō)ą0ø ` x` xąhave€a€"limited€education"€background€and€haveŠ tÄ Šskilled€or€semiskilled€previous€work€experience€butŠ `° Šwhose€skills€are€not€transferable,€Rule€201.10€€€€€Š L œ Šmandates€a€finding€of€"disabled";€however€RuleŠ 8 ˆ Š201.11€mandates€a€finding€of€"not€disabled"€for€aŠ $ t Šsimilarly€situated€person€whose€skills€areŠ  ` Štransferable.Šü L ø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ą(ii)ą0ø ` x` xąhave€a€full€high€school€education€(or€more)€and€haveŠ Ō$  Šskilled€or€semiskilled€previous€work€experience€butŠ Ą  Šwhose€skills€are€not€transferable,€Rule€201.14Š ¬ü  Šmandates€a€finding€of€"disabled";€however,€RuleŠ ˜č  Š201.15€mandates€a€finding€of€"not€disabled"€for€aŠ „Ō  Šsimilarly€situated€person€whose€skills€areŠ pĄ Štransferable.Š\¬ø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ą(c)ą0ø ` x` xąWith€respect€to€persons€who€are€"youngerŠ 4„ Šindividuals"€(i.e.€18-49€years€of€age),the€issue€ofŠ  p Š"transferability"€of€skills€does€not€change€the€resultŠ  \ Šone€way€or€the€other€[see€Rules€201.19,€201.20,Š ųH Š201.21,€201.22,€201.25,€201.26,€201.28€and€201.29].Šä4ø xø x ŠĢ[3.3]€€Table€No.€2€(which€deals€with€claimants€who€have€an€RFC€limited€to€light€work€asŠ ¼  Ša€result€of€a€severe€medically€determinable€impairment)€also€sets€forth€severalŠ Øų Šcategories€in€which€the€issue€of€transferability€makes€a€crucial€difference€in€theŠ ”ä Šdetermination€of€disability:Š €Š Š€€€€€Š l¼ Šą8  ąą8` Š Š ą(a)ą ø ąWith€respect€to€persons€of€"advanced€age"€whoŠX Ø` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ą(Ō_ŌiŌ_Ō)ą0ø ` x` xąhave€a€limited€(or€less)€education€and€skilled€orŠ 0"€  Šsemiskilled€previous€Ō_ŌworkexperienceŌ_Ō€but€whose€skillsŠ #l! Šare€not€transferable,€Rule€202.02€mandates€a€findingŠ $X" Šof€"disabled";€however,€Rule€202.03€mandates€aŠ ō$D # Šfinding€of€"not€disabled"€for€a€similarly€situated€personŠ ą%0!$ Šwhose€skills€are€transferable.ŠĢ&"%ø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ą(ii)ą0ø ` x` xąhave€a€full€high€school€education€(or€more)€and€haveŠ ¤(ō#' Šskilled€or€semiskilled€previous€work€experience€whichŠ )ą$( Šdoes€not€provide€for€direct€entry€into€skilled€work€butŠ |*Ģ%) Šwhose€skills€are€not€transferable,€Rule€202.06Š h+ø&* Šmandates€a€finding€of€"disabled";€however,€RuleŠ T,¤'+ Š202.07€mandates€a€finding€of€"not€disabled"€for€aŠ @-(, Šsimilarly€situated€person€whose€skills€areŠ ,.|)- Štransferable.(19)Š/h*.ø xø x ŠŠ 0T+/ Šą8  ąą8` Š Š ą(b)ą0ø ` x` xąWith€respect€to€persons€"closely€approachingŠ ° Šadvanced€age"€whoŠœģø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ą(Ō_ŌiŌ_Ō)ą0ø ` x` xąhave€a€"limited€education"€background€and€haveŠ tÄ Šskilled€or€semiskilled€previous€work€experience€butŠ `° Šwhose€skills€are€not€transferable,€Rule€202.11€€€€€Š L œ Šmandates€a€finding€of€"not€disabled"€and€Rule€202.12Š 8 ˆ Šalso€mandates€a€finding€of€"not€disabled"€for€aŠ $ t Šsimilarly€situated€person€whose€skills€areŠ  ` Štransferable.Šü L ø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ą(ii)ą0ø ` x` xąhave€a€full€high€school€education€(or€more)€and€haveŠ Ō$  Šskilled€or€semiskilled€previous€work€experience€butŠ Ą  Šwhose€skills€are€not€transferable,€Rule€202.14Š ¬ü  Šmandates€a€finding€of€"not€disabled",€as€does€RuleŠ ˜č  Š202.15€for€a€similarly€situated€person€whose€skills€areŠ „Ō  Štransferable.ŠpĄø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ą(c)ą0ø ` x` xąWith€respect€to€persons€who€are€"youngerŠ H˜ Šindividuals"€(i.e.€18-49€years€of€age),€the€issue€ofŠ 4„ Š"transferability"€of€skills€does€not€change€the€resultŠ  p Šone€way€or€the€other€[see€Rules€202.18,€202.19,Š  \ Š202.21€and€201.22].ŠųHø xø x ŠĢ[3.4]€€Table€No.€3€(which€deals€with€claimants€who€have€an€RFC€limited€to€medium€workŠ Š  Šas€a€result€of€a€severe€medically€determinable€impairment)€also€sets€forth€severalŠ ¼  Šcategories€relating€to€issue€of€transferability,€but€none€of€those€categories€makes€anyŠ Øų Šdifference€in€the€determination€of€disability€in€a€particular€case.Š ”ä ŠĢ[3.5]€€It€is€thus€evident€that€Rules€201.03,€201.07,€201.11€and€201.15€("TransferabilityŠ l¼ ŠGrids")€-€on€their€face€-€compel€a€finding€of€"not€disabled"€in€situations€in€which€theŠ X Ø Šclaimant€has€acquired€transferable€skills€from€prior€work€experience€independent€ofŠ D!” Šwhether€or€not€the€trier€of€fact€can€identify€specific€jobs€which€are€available€in€theŠ 0"€  Šnational€or€regional€economies.€Given€the€detailed€evaluations€required€by€SSR€82-41.Š #l! Š,€however,€it€is€hard€to€see€how€an€adjudicator€can€make€use€of€the€"mechanical"Š $X" Šconclusions€authorized€by€the€Transferability€Grids€to€find€Grid€jobs€for€claimants€withŠ ō$D # Štransferable€skills.Š ą%0!$ ŠĢ[3.6]€€Under€the€Regulations,€an€individual€is€considered€to€have€transferable€skillsŠ ø'#& Š"when€the€skilled€or€semi-skilled€work€activities€[the€individual]€did€in€past€work€can€beŠ ¤(ō#' Šused€to€meet€the€requirements€of€skilled€or€semi-skilled€work€activities€of€other€jobs€orŠ )ą$( Škinds€of€work"€20€C.F.R.€šš404.1568.€Transferability€is€most€probable€among€jobs€inŠ |*Ģ%) Šwhich€the€same€or€a€lesser€degree€of€skill€is€required;€the€same€or€similar€tools€andŠ h+ø&* Šmachines€are€used;€and€the€same€or€similar€raw€materials,€products,€processes€orŠ T,¤'+ Šservices€are€involved.€Id.€20€C.F.R.€šš404.1565.€"Transferability€refers€to€acquired€workŠ @-(, Šskills,€not€to€aptitudes€and€attributes€that€are€more€properly€characterized€as€qualitiesŠ ,.|)- Šnecessary€and€useful€in€nearly€all€jobs."€ņņFrey€v.€Bowenóó,€816€F.2d€508,€517-18€(10thŠ /h*. ŠCir.€1987).Š 0T+/ Š‡[3.7]€€The€concepts€of€"skills"€and€"transferability€of€skills"€are€explained€in€SSR€82-41,Š ° Šwhich€deals€with€the€methodology€under€which€SSA€adjudicators€are€required€toŠ œģ Šconsider€whether€a€claimant€with€skilled€or€semiskilled€prior€work€experience€is€able€toŠ ˆŲ Šadjust€to€other€kinds€of€work.€The€term€"skill"€is€defined€as:Š tÄ ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ą.€.€.€knowledge€of€a€work€activity€which€requires€the€exerciseŠ L œ Šof€significant€judgment€that€goes€beyond€the€carrying€out€ofŠ 8 ˆ Šsimple€job€duties€and€is€acquired€through€performance€of€anŠ $ t Šoccupation€which€is€above€the€unskilled€level€(requires€moreŠ  ` Šthan€30€days€to€learn).€It€is€practical€and€familiar€knowledgeŠ ü L  Šof€the€principles€and€processes€of€an€art,€science€or€trade,Š č 8  Šcombined€with€the€ability€to€apply€them€in€practice€in€aŠ Ō$  Šproper€and€approved€manner.€.€.€.€A€skill€gives€a€person€aŠ Ą  Šspecial€advantage€over€unskilled€workers€in€the€laborŠ ¬ü  Šmarket.Š˜č ` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąSkills€are€not€gained€by€doing€unskilled€jobs,€and€a€personŠ pĄ Šhas€no€special€advantage€if€he€or€she€is€skilled€orŠ \¬ Šsemiskilled€but€can€qualify€only€for€an€unskilled€job€becauseŠ H˜ Šhis€or€her€skills€cannot€be€used€to€any€significant€degree€inŠ 4„ Šother€jobs.Š p` x` x ŠĢSSR€82-41.€,€šš2(a)€(1982)€(emphasis€added).Š ųH ŠĢ[3.8]€€The€term€"transferability"€is€defined€as€"applying€work€skills€which€a€person€hasŠ Š  Šdemonstrated€in€vocationally€relevant€past€jobs€to€meet€the€requirements€of€otherŠ ¼  Šskilled€or€semiskilled€jobs."€Id.€šš2(b).Š Øų ŠĢ[3.9]€€Consistent€with€SSR€82-41,€Regulation€20€Ō_ŌC.F.R.Ō_Ō€šš404.1568(d)€also€definesŠ €Š Štransferability€in€terms€of€transferability€to€"skilled"€work€only:Š l¼ ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąWe€consider€you€to€have€skills€that€can€be€used€in€otherŠ D!” Šjobs,€when€the€skilled€or€semiskilled€work€activities€you€didŠ 0"€  Šin€past€work€can€be€used€to€meet€the€requirements€of€skilledŠ #l! Šor€semi-skilled(20)€work€activities€other€jobs€or€kinds€ofŠ $X" Šwork.Šō$D #` x` x ŠĢ(Emphasis€added).Š Ģ&"% ŠĢ[3.10]€€Case€law€also€emphasizes€that€skills€are€not€transferable€to€unskilled€workŠ ¤(ō#' Šbecause,€by€definition,€unskilled€work€requires€no€skills.(21)€ņņAllen€v.€Bowenóó,€881€F.2dŠ )ą$( Š37,€43€(3rd€Cir.€1989)€("if€the€only€jobs€that€a€claimant€can€presently€perform€are€of€anŠ |*Ģ%) Šunskilled€nature€.€.€.€then€plainly€his€former€employment€has€transferred€no€skills€ofŠ h+ø&* Špresent€value").€ņņBotefur€v.€Heckleróó,€612€F.Supp.€973,€977€(D.Or.€1985)€("The€existenceŠ T,¤'+ Šof€unskilled€jobs€in€completely€different€fields€[than€his€past€work]€should€be€legallyŠ @-(, Širrelevant€to€individuals€of€[claimant's]€age€and€background").€ņņŌ_ŌSaulsberryŌ_Ō€v.€Ō_ŌChaterŌ_Ōóó,€959Š ,.|)- ŠF.Supp.€1247,€1251€(C.D.Cal.€1997)€(even€if€claimant€developed€transferable€skills,€anyŠ /h*. Šsuch€skills€are€not€transferable€to€an€unskilled€job).€If€a€claimant's€skills€are€notŠ 0T+/ Štransferable€to€an€identified€job,€the€claimant€is€in€the€same€position€as€someone€who€isŠ ° Šunskilled.€See€also€20€C.F.R.€šš404.1565(a):€"If€you€cannot€use€your€skills€in€otherŠ œģ Šskilled€or€semiskilled€work,€we€will€consider€your€work€background€the€same€asŠ ˆŲ Šunskilled."Š tÄ ŠĢ[3.11]€€SSR€82-41€emphasizes€that€the€SSA€decision€maker€(whether€in€a€State€agencyŠ L œ Šor€in€the€Office€of€Hearing€and€Appeals(22))€must€make€a€careful€inquiry€-€usually€withŠ 8 ˆ Šthe€assistance€of€a€vocational€expert€€("VE")€-€to€determine€(a)€whether€the€claimant'sŠ $ t ŠŌ_ŌPRWŌ_Ō€is€unskilled,€semiskilled€or€skilled,€(b)€whether€particular€skills€acquired€by€theŠ  ` Šclaimant€in€such€semiskilled€or€skilled€PRW€are€capable€of€being€used€by€him/her€inŠ ü L  Šother€jobs€in€view€of€his/her€RFC,€(c)€whether€the€degree€of€transferability€is€close€orŠ č 8  Šremote€to€the€particular€"other€job"€under€consideration€and€(d)€whether€the€age€of€theŠ Ō$  Šclaimant€(i.e.€age€55€or€over)€may€impede€transferability€of€skills.(23)Š Ą  ŠĢ[3.12]€€As€already€indicated,€the€basic€assumption€underlying€the€Regulations(24)€isŠ ˜č  Šthat€a€skill€generally€gives€a€person€a€special€advantage€over€unskilled€workers€in€theŠ „Ō  Šoverall€labor€market€since€a€skilled€worker€(i)€has€a€greater€number€of€possible€jobs€thatŠ pĄ Šhe/she€can€do€and€(ii)€is€generally€more€able€to€adapt€to€a€new€work€environment;€onŠ \¬ Šthe€other€hand,€a€skilled€or€semiskilled€person€has€no€special€advantage€in€the€laborŠ H˜ Šmarket€if€those€skills€cannot€be€used€in€other€jobs€(i.e.€if€the€person€cannot€transferŠ 4„ Šthese€skills€to€another€skilled€or€semiskilled€job).€In€such€a€case,€the€person€can€qualifyŠ  p Šonly€for€an€unskilled€job€-€a€situation€which€places€the€person€at€no€competitiveŠ  \ Šadvantage€vis-a-vis€other€workers€with€prior€unskilled€work€experience.(25)Š ųH ŠĢņ ņ4.ą  ąProblems€with€Transferability€and€the€Guidelinesó óŠ Š  ŠĢ[4.1]€€Because€(a)€the€Guidelines€explicitly€mandate€presumptions€as€to€the€availabilityŠ ° Šof€unskilled€jobs€(i.e.€Grid€jobs)€only€and€(b)€the€Transferability€Grids€provide€aŠ œģ Šmechanism€by€which€a€claimant's€acquired€[transferable]€skills€are€allowed€to€"transfer"Š ˆŲ Što€Grid€jobs,€the€Guidelines€seem€to€permit€skills€to€be€transferred€to€unskilled€jobs€inŠ tÄ Šthe€disability€evaluation€process.€This,€of€course,€would€be€logically€inconsistent€withŠ ` ° Šthe€basic€premises€underlying€SSR€82-41;€to€wit,€that€acquired€skills€cannot€beŠ L!œ Štransferred€to€unskilled€work€but€only€to€other€work€that€requires€the€same€or€similarŠ 8"ˆ  Šskills.€For€this€reason,€it€would€appear€that€the€issue€of€"transferability€of€skills"€shouldŠ $#t! Šreally€have€no€application€in€the€use€of€the€Guidelines:€because€skills€cannot€beŠ $`" Štransferred€to€unskilled€work,€if€a€claimant€has€skills€which€are€transferable€they€shouldŠ ü$L # Šnot€(logically)€be€considered€for€those€"administratively€noticed"€Grid€jobs,€which€are€allŠ č%8!$ Šunskilled.€On€the€surface,€it€would€appear€that€the€Guidelines€cannot€be€mechanicallyŠ Ō&$"% Šapplied.Š Ą'#& ŠĢ[4.2]€€This€apparent€inconsistency€can€only€be€reconciled€if€the€Transferability€Grids€areŠ ˜)č$( Šunderstood€as€exceptions€to€the€presumptions€otherwise€contained€in€the€Guidelines;Š „*Ō%) Šthat€is,€the€presumption€that€certain€vocational€profiles€established€by€the€GuidelinesŠ p+Ą&* Šautomatically€mandate€a€finding€of€"disabled"€or€"not€disabled".€What€the€TransferabilityŠ \,¬'+ ŠGrids€do€is€allow€the€adjudicator€to€find€"employability"€(i.e.€a€finding€of€"not€disabled")Š H-˜(, Šnotwithstanding€the€fact€that€the€vocational€profile€of€the€claimant€would€otherwiseŠ 4.„)- Šmandate€a€finding€of€"disabled".Š  /p*. Š€€€€€Š  0\+/ Š[4.3]€€If€the€claimant€has€transferable€skills€(either€as€testified€to€by€a€VE€or€determinedŠ ° Šby€the€Department€of€Labor€in€the€Dictionary€of€Occupational€Titles),€the€TransferabilityŠ œģ ŠGrids€allow€the€adjudicator€-€notwithstanding€the€claimant's€profile€-€to€make€a€finding€ofŠ ˆŲ Š"not€disabled",€but€only€after€considering€VE€testimony€as€to€whether€the€skills€acquiredŠ tÄ Šby€the€claimant€during€his/her€work€history€can€be€transferred€to€other€jobs€generally.Š `° ŠWhat€is€important€to€understand,€however,€is€that€the€Transferability€Grids€do€not€-€onŠ L œ Štheir€face€-€require€that€a€VE€either€(Ō_ŌiŌ_Ō)€actually€identify€specific€jobs€or€(ii)€state€theŠ 8 ˆ Šspecific€number€of€such€jobs€that€are€available€in€the€national€and€regional€economies.Š $ t ŠThey€rather€assume€(sub€silencio)€that€a€skilled€worker€is€inherently€more€"employable"Š  ` Šthan€an€unskilled€worker.Š ü L  ŠĢņ ņ5.ą  ą€Conclusionó óŠ Ō$  ŠĢ[5.1]€€Common€sense€tells€us€that€a€skilled€worker€with€transferable€skills€is€moreŠ “  Šcapable€of€finding€employment€than€one€without€skills€[or€one€without€transferableŠ  š  Šskills];€however,€adjudicators€should€exert€great€care€before€mechanically€using€theŠ ŒÜ  ŠTransferability€Grids€to€make€findings€that€a€particular€claimant€with€prior€skilled€workŠ xČ Šexperience€is€"not€disabled"€(ie€"employable").€Before€making€such€a€finding,€the€betterŠ d“ Šcourse€would€be€to€obtain€VE€testimony€specifically€(i)€identifying€those€skills€which€areŠ P  Štransferable,€(ii)€describing€specific€jobs€in€which€those€skills€can€be€utilized€and€(iii)Š <Œ Šadvising€the€adjudicator€as€to€the€number€of€such€jobs€that€actually€exist€in€the€nationalŠ (x Šand€regional€economies.Š d ŠĢą@ĄĄ&ģąņ ņENDNOTESó óˆŠ ģ< ŠĢ1.ą0  ąThis€article€was€written€by€Judge€Katz€in€his€private€capacity.€No€official€approvalŠ Ģ Šor€endorsement€by€the€Office€of€Hearings€and€Appeals€or€the€Social€SecurityŠ ø ŠAdministration€is€intended€or€should€be€inferred.€€The€views€expressed€in€thisŠ ¤ō Šarticle€do€not€€represent€the€views€of€the€Agency€or€of€the€United€States.Šą(#(# ŠĢ2.ą0  ąThe€Act€is€administered€by€the€Social€Security€Administration€("SSA")€which€isŠ h ø Šheaded€by€the€Commissioner€of€Social€Security€("Commissioner").ŠT!¤(#(# ŠĢ3.ą0  ąThe€Commissioner's€test€for€determining€disability€is€different€for€a€child€claimantŠ ,#|! Š(i.e.,€someone€who€has€not€yet€attained€the€age€of€18€years€[20€Ō_ŌC.F.R.Ō_Ō€ššŠ $h" Š416.911]€as€it€is€related€to€the€child's€overall€health€and€functioning€-€not€to€theŠ %T # Šchild's€ability€to€work€per€se.Šš%@!$(#(# ŠĢ4.ą0  ąAn€impairment€must€be€shown€by€objective€medical€evidence€to€result€from€anŠ Č'#& Šanatomical,€physiological€or€psychological€abnormality€and€must€be€establishedŠ “($' Šnot€only€by€the€claimant's€statements€of€symptoms,€but€also€by€medical€evidenceŠ  )š$( Šconsisting€of€sign,€symptoms€and€laboratory€findings.€20€C.F.R.€šš404.1508.€InŠ Œ*Ü%) Šother€words,€there€must€be€an€organic€basis€or€a€known€medical€pathology€forŠ x+Č&* Šthe€claimant's€report€of€symptoms€in€order€for€an€impairment€to€exist.€SSR€96-4pŠ d,“'+ Šemphasizes€the€requirement€that€under€no€circumstances€may€the€existence€ofŠ P- (, Šan€impairment€be€established€on€the€basis€of€symptoms€alone.Š<.Œ)-(#(# Šā āŠ (/x*. Š5.ą0  ąThe€Listings€consist€of€descriptions€of€various€physical€and€mental€illnesses€andŠ ° Šā āabnormalities€categorized€by€the€body€system€they€affect.€Each€impairment€isŠ œģ Šdefined€in€terms€of€several€specific€medical€signs,€symptoms€or€laboratory€testŠ ˆŲ Šresults.€For€a€claimant€to€show€that€his/her€impairment€matches€a€Listing,€it€mustŠ tÄ Šmeet€all€of€the€specified€medical€criteria.€The€Listings€essentially€contain€a€list€ofŠ `° Šimpairments€presumed€severe€enough€to€preclude€any€gainful€work.ŠL œ(#(# ŠĢ6.ą0  ąņņSeeóó€20€C.F.R.€šš416.925€(purpose€of€Listings€is€to€describe€impairments€"severeŠ $ t Šenough€to€prevent€a€person€from€doing€any€gainful€activity").Š `(#(# ŠĢ7.ą0  ąThe€trier€of€fact's€common€sense€determines€just€what€constitutes€a€"significant"Š č 8  Šnumber€of€jobs€in€each€particular€factual€situation.€ņņHall€v.€Chateróó,€109€F.3d€1255,Š Ō$  Š1259€(8th€Cir.€1997);€ņņJohnson€v.€Chateróó,€108€F.3d€178,€1880€(8th€Cir.€1997).Š Ą  ŠFactors€the€trial€judge€should€consider€include€the€level€of€the€claimant'sŠ ¬ü  Šdisability,€the€reliability€of€both€the€claimant's€and€the€VE's€testimony€and€theŠ ˜č  Štypes€and€availability€of€work€that€the€claimant€can€perform.Š„Ō (#(# ŠĢ8.ą0  ąRegulation€200.00(b).Š\¬(#(# ŠĢ9.ą0  ąThe€Guidelines€are€sometimes€referred€to€as€the€"Grids".Š4„(#(# ŠĢ10.ą0  ąThe€Guidelines€can€be€used€to€determine€disability€or€non-disability,€providedŠ  \ Šthat€the€nonexertional€impairments€do€not€significantly€diminish€the€claimant'sŠ ųH Šresidual€capacity€to€perform€the€activities€listed€in€them.€Where€a€claimant€is€notŠ ä4 Šable€to€do€a€full€range€of€work€at€a€particular€exertional€level,€the€Guidelines€doŠ Š  Šnot€provide€any€presumption€concerning€the€availability€of€jobs€and€may€not€beŠ ¼  Šused.€SSR€96-9p€governs€in€such€cases.ŠØų(#(# ŠĢ11.ą0  ąThe€Supreme€Court€determined€that€the€use€of€the€Medical-Vocational€grids€wasŠ €Š Šconsistent€with€the€Social€Security€Act€and€is€a€valid€exercise€of€the€SocialŠ l¼ ŠSecurity€Administration's€rule€making€powers.€Heckler€v.€Campbell,€461€U.S.Š X Ø Š458,€467-8€(1983).ŠD!”(#(# ŠĢ12.ą0  ąIn€such€a€case,€the€provisions€of€SSR€96-9€govern.Š#l!(#(# ŠĢ13.ą0  ąņņSeeóó,€SSR€82-63.Šō$D #(#(# ŠĢ14.ą0  ąTransferability€means€applying€work€skills€which€a€person€has€demonstrated€inŠ Ģ&"% Švocational€relevant€past€jobs€to€meet€the€requirements€of€other€skilled€orŠ ø'#& Šsemiskilled€jobs.€SSR€82-41.€.€Transferability€of€skills€becomes€an€issue,€ofŠ ¤(ō#' Šcourse,€only€after€a€determination€is€made€at€Step€4€that€an€individual'sŠ )ą$( Šimpairment(s)€prevents€the€performance€of€past€relevant€work€(PRW)€which€isŠ |*Ģ%) Šskilled€or€semiskilled.Šh+ø&*(#(# ŠĢ15.ą0  ąThe€use€of€a€VE€is€not€mandatory,€but€"may"€be€used€to€assist€the€adjudicatorŠ @-(, Š[Regulation€20€C.F.R.€šš404.1565].€The€adjudicator€may€also€take€administrativeŠ ,.|)- Šā ānotice€of€the€Dictionary€of€Occupational€Titles€("DOT"),€which€is€published€by€theŠ /h*. ŠDepartment€of€Labor,€to€obtain€job€data€and€make€determinations€of€theseŠ ° Šissues.€Regulation€20€Ō_ŌC.F.R.Ō_Ō€šš404.1565(d).Šœģ(#(# Šā āĢ16.ą0  ąDefined€as€individuals€who€are€55€years€and€over.€In€order€to€find€transferabilityŠ tÄ Šof€skills€to€skilled€sedentary€work€for€such€persons,€however,€there€must€be€veryŠ `° Šlittle,€if€any,€vocational€adjustment€required€in€terms€of€tools,€work€processes,Š L œ Šwork€settings€or€the€industry€[Guidelines€201.00(f)].Š8 ˆ(#(# ŠĢ17.ą0  ąDefined€as€a€7th€to€11th€grade€of€formal€education€[20€Ō_ŌC.F.R.Ō_Ō€šš404.1564(b)(3)].Š `(#(# ŠĢ18.ą0  ąDefined€as€persons€aged€50-54€[Guidelines€201.00(g)].Šč 8 (#(# ŠĢ19.ą0  ąThose€high€school€graduates€whose€education€provides€for€direct€entry€intoŠ Ą  Šskilled€work€are€found€by€Rule€202.08€to€be€"not€disabled"€even€though€suchŠ ¬ü  Šskills€are€not€transferable.Š˜č (#(# ŠĢ20.ą0  ą"Semi-skilled€work€is€work€which€needs€some€skills€but€does€not€require€doingŠ pĄ Šthe€more€complex€work€duties€.€.€.€.€[It€involves]€activities€which€are€.€.€.€lessŠ \¬ Šcomplex€than€skilled€work,€but€more€complex€than€unskilled€work"€20€Ō_ŌC.F.R.Ō_ŌŠ H˜ Ššš416.968(b).Š4„(#(# ŠĢ21.ą0  ąBy€definition:€"[U]nskilled€work€is€work€which€needs€little€or€no€judgment€to€doŠ  \ Šsimple€duties€that€can€be€learned€on€the€job€in€a€short€period€of€time,"€usuallyŠ ųH Šwithin€30€days.€20€Ō_ŌC.F.R.Ō_Ō€šš416.968(a).Šä4(#(# ŠĢ22.ą0  ąi.e.,€an€Administrative€Law€Judge€("ALJ").Š¼ (#(# ŠĢ23.ą0  ąBased€on€the€assumption€that€older€workers€have€a€more€difficult€time€makingŠ ”ä Šadjustments€to€new€work€situations€than€younger€workers.Š€Š(#(# ŠĢ24.ą0  ąAs€explained€in€SSR€82-41.ŠX Ø(#(# ŠĢ25.ą0  ąEven€if€unskilled,€a€person€who€has€worked€in€the€past€is€still€more€employableŠ 0"€  Šthan€a€person€who€has€never€worked:€"The€lack€of€work€experience€is€aŠ #l! Švocationally€adverse€factor€in€that€a€person€who€has€not€been€in€the€laborŠ $X" Šmarket€has€not€developed€any€basic€knowledge€of€work€products€or€services,€theŠ ō$D # Šability€to€relate€and€communicate€to€supervisors€and€coworkers,€[or]€the€workŠ ą%0!$ Šhabits€of€scheduling€time.€.€.€."€€SSR€82-63.Ō#†XČXX XČ9#Ō