Section 13 Step 2-"Severe" Impairment

• Library: Social Security Administration Practice and Procedure (2011 Ed.)

Step 2 poses the following question:

Does this claimant have a severe medically determinable impairment?

A "severe" impairment is a term of art, derived from § 223(d)(3) of the SSAct, 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(3); 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 404.1508, 416.920(c), and 416.908; SSRs 85-28 and 96-3p. A "severe" impairment is an impairment causing limitations having more than a minimal effect on a claimant's capacity to perform basic work activities. An impairment that does not significantly limit a claimant's...