# What is the 5-step sequential evaluation process for disability claims? Last updated Jul 19, 2026 Reviewed by Jason Burns, Editorial Steward — https://ssdidirectanswers.com/steward Published by SSDI Direct Answers · Licensed under Citation License 1.0 — https://ssdidirectanswers.com/license SSA decides adult disability claims using a standardized five-step sequential evaluation: (1) is the claimant performing substantial gainful activity (SGA); (2) does the claimant have a severe medically determinable impairment; (3) does the impairment meet or equal a listing in the Listing of Impairments; (4) can the claimant still do past relevant work; and (5) considering residual functional capacity, age, education, and work experience, can the claimant do other work in the national economy. ## What the government has said, on the record > "For both disability programs, we evaluate adult claimants under a standardized five-step evaluation process (sequential evaluation), which we formally incorporated into our regulations in 1978. ... At the third step, we determine whether the impairment "meets" or "equals" the criteria of one of the medical Listing of Impairments (Listings) in our regulations. ... At step five, we determine whether the claimant, given his or her RFC, age, education, and work experience, can do other work that exists in the national economy." — **Michael J. Astrue**, Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (15th Commissioner, 2007-2013), [Statement before the House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Social Security (hearing on how disability decisions are made)](https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/testimony_032012.html), March 20, 2012. Who said this: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Astrue - https://www.ssa.gov/history/astrue.html - https://www.ssa.gov/history/commissioners.html *Editor's note: Testimony is from 2012 but the five-step process it describes is unchanged and still in use in 2026; ellipses join three verified sentences from the same testimony; SGA dollar levels referenced elsewhere in the testimony change annually.* SSA decides adult disability claims using a standardized five-step sequential evaluation: (1) is the claimant performing substantial gainful activity (SGA); (2) does the claimant have a severe medically determinable impairment; (3) does the impairment meet or equal a listing in the Listing of Impairments; (4) can the claimant still do past relevant work; and (5) considering residual functional capacity, age, education, and work experience, can the claimant do other work in the national economy. The process itself has been in SSA regulations since 1978 and remains current in 2026, but the SGA earnings threshold applied at step 1 is a dollar amount that SSA adjusts annually. SSA decides adult disability claims using a standardized five-step sequential evaluation: (1) is the claimant performing substantial gainful activity (SGA); (2) does the claimant have a severe medically determinable impairment; (3) does the impairment meet or equal a listing in the Listing of Impairments; (4) can the claimant still do past relevant work; and (5) considering residual functional capacity, age, education, and work experience, can the claimant do other work in the national economy. ## What is the 5-step sequential evaluation process for disability claims? The process itself has been in SSA regulations since 1978 and remains current in 2026, but the SGA earnings threshold applied at step 1 is a dollar amount that SSA adjusts annually. ## Where to verify See the official source cited in the quote block above, and SSA's own program pages at [ssa.gov/disability](https://www.ssa.gov/disability). Program dollar amounts change annually with the cost-of-living adjustment. ## Sources - Statement before the House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Social Security (hearing on how disability decisions are made) — https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/testimony_032012.html - SSA — Disability Benefits — https://www.ssa.gov/disability --- Canonical URL: https://ssdidirectanswers.com/answers/five-step-sequential-evaluation-process Publisher: SSDI Direct Answers — a product of Adolicious LLC Published: 2026-07-20T16:14:00+00:00 Modified: 2026-07-19T00:29:27.066306+00:00 License: Citation License 1.0 — https://ssdidirectanswers.com/license © 2026 Adolicious LLC. All rights reserved. Disclaimer: SSDI Direct Answers is a private informational website. It is not affiliated with the Social Security Administration or any government agency. Informational only — not legal, medical, or financial advice. For official information visit ssa.gov.