If you have a disability case pending and you want to know how your status is determined, a Jacksonville social security disability attorney can guide you through the process.

When determining disability status, the rules are most concerned with your physical ability to do the following:

• Stand
• Sit
• Walk
• Bend
• Lift
• Work with your hands

Mental impairments are more complicated to determine.

If you are unable to do certain kinds of work, your attorney will look at the rules in your jurisdiction and determine what you need to prove in order to win your case. There are different rules based on your age.

Under Age 50

You must prove that you are unable to perform at an easy sit-down job or a job where you are allowed to alternate sitting and standing. You must prove this, even if you are not going to be hired anyway.

Age 50-54

You have to prove you cannot do light work. Light work consists of lifting up to 20 pounds and being on your feet most of the day. Many desk jobs fit this qualification.

Age 55 and Older

You must prove you cannot do “medium” work, which consists of frequently lifting 25-50 pounds, and being on your feet for most of the day. At this age, you can be capable of doing light work and still be found disabled.

Your lawyer must prove what you can’t do and also what you are able to do. Claiming that you can’t do anything will make the judge suspicious.

If your prior jobs involved knowing many skills, you will have to explain them and explain what you can and cannot do anymore.

A Jacksonville social security disability attorney will prove this through your testimony, and how you respond to questions from both your attorney and the judge. Be thorough in your answers, and know your lawyer’s questions in advance so you appear knowledgeable about your condition.

For more information on how your disability status is determined in court, contact Jacksonville social security disability attorney John Fagan at 904-278-1000.