The Social Security Administration (SSA) has updated its list of occupations used in disability evaluations to ensure relevance to the current job market. When deciding if someone isn’t eligible for benefits, the agency must show proof that the person can do work that exists in significant numbers across the country. They rely on the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) and the Selected Characteristics of Occupations Defined in the Revised DOT as reliable sources of job information.However, the SSA has recently identified 114 occupations that are now rare or non-existent in all U.S. Census divisions and will no longer use them to deny disability claims. The excluded occupations include:Agricultural EngineerAstronomerGeographerGenealogistHistorianAirline-Radio OperatorDispatcherRadio OfficerRadio Station OperatorWire-Transfer ClerkDirectory-Assistance OperatorTelegrapherPay-Station AttendantModelImpersonator, CharacterCookEmbalmer ApprenticeEmbalmerAnimal BreederFur FarmerLivestock RancherHog-Confinement-System ManagerCanary BreederPoultry BreederReptile FarmerFire WardenFire LookoutFire RangerLog GraderLog ScalerLadle LinerStopper MakerLoft WorkerModel MakerCamera RepairerWatch RepairerAssemblerBanking Pin AdjusterBarrel AssemblerChronometer Assembler and AdjusterHairspring AssemblerHairspring VibratorPallet-Stone InserterPallet-Stone PositionerWatch AssemblerTiming AdjusterJig BuilderThread LasterField-Service EngineerPaperhangerBillposterDredge OperatorTerrazzo WorkerDiverTower OperatorYard EngineerCar-Retarder OperatorLaborer, Car BarnHostlerTransfer-Table OperatorMotorboat OperatorDinkey OperatorDock HandRoof BolterPower-Reactor OperatorMotion-Picture ProjectionistAudiovisual TechnicianAdditionally, 13 occupations have been flagged for increased evidence requirements due to federal court concerns:AddresserDocument Preparer, MicrofilmingCutter-and-Paster, Press ClippingsTube OperatorSilver WrapperHost/Hostess, Dance HallHost/Hostess, HeadSurveillance-System MonitorAlmond Blancher, HandNut SorterMagnetic-Tape WinderPuller-ThroughMicrofilm ProcessorThese changes are intended to make disability determinations more accurate and fairer, and the SSA continues to review the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Requirements Survey to inform future updates. For more details, you can read the full announcement here.
