What is a grid (Medical-Vocational Guideline)?

As I stated in my previous post, in step 5, Social Security determines whether a claimant can perform any work in the national economy. In step 5, Social Security has the burden to prove this. To aid in this process, Social Security created Medical-Vocational Guidelines or “grids”. These grids have three sets of tables which apply to claimants able

to perform either sedentary (seated) work, light work, or medium work (the grids do not apply to those who can perform more than medium work). Each category has been created by looking at the amount of jobs available requiring that amount of work. The next three categories are age, education, and previous work experience. When a claimant finds the appropriate column that corresponds to his or her situation, the fourth and final column will say whether the individual is disabled. The grids often do not apply to different cases and an individualized evaluation is required. Grids can be quite technical and confusing if you have not been familiarized with them.

If you would like to learn more about grids and how they may apply to your case or someone you know, the best thing to do is to visit Social Security’s website or to call a Social Security Disability attorney.