DI 22515: Vocational Evidence
TN 2 (08-17)
A. Basic provisions for using a DEQY or SEQY query
You are not required to use a DEQY or SEQY or other queries when developing or resolving vocational evidence. The DEQY and SEQY or other queries are not essential tools for gathering or resolving vocational evidence. They do not provide information about the type of work performed. They provide general earnings information only.
1. DEQY
The DEQY is an immediate response online query that displays requested earnings information and related data. The data displayed on the DEQY printout extracts data from the Master Earnings File (MEF) and/or the Employer Identification File (EIF).
The DEQY is for use by the Social Security Administration (SSA) only. There was no intent to provide the earnings data on the DEQY printout to the public. An individual requesting detailed record information, including identification of employers, completes Form SSA-7050-F4 (Request for Social Security Earnings Information).
The DEQY printout consists of the following three parts:
Input, Related SSN and special legend header lines (Sections SM 00344.001 through SM 00344.009);
Posted detail data (Sections SM 00344.011 through SM 00344.031); and
Remarks (section SM 00344.035).
2. SEQY
A SEQY allows you to compare earnings by year with the information on the SSA-3368-BK or SSA-3369-BKquickly. The SEQY provides the year and earnings amount only to assist the claimant with remembering his or her work for that year.
See Also:
SM 00345.900 Summary Earnings Query (SEQY) (SENSITIVE – NOT TO BE SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC)
B. Obtaining a DEQY via International Business Machine Personal Communications (PCOMM) or eView
To obtain a DEQY query via PCOMM, follow the procedure in MS QUERIES 003.005.
To obtain a DEQY via eView:
Click on the Queries heading on the case documents tab in eView.
When the Query Selection Screen opens click on the DEQY tab if not already selected.
Enter the relevant period years into “Inclusive Years”.
-
Highlight
Covered Details,
Self-Employment, and
Employer Address.
Click on “Add”.
Click on View only, it is not currently possible for the DDS to save the query to the EF.
C. Obtaining a SEQY via PCOM or eView
To obtain an SEQY query via PCOM, follow the procedure in MS QUERIES 003.004.
To obtain a SEQY via eView:
Click on the Queries heading on the case documents tab in eView.
When the Query Selection Screen opens, click on the SEQY tab.
Enter the relevant period years into “Inclusive Years”.
Click on View only, it is not currently possible for the DDS to save the query to the EF.
D. Required actions when using a query to resolve insufficient vocational evidence.
Take the following steps if you decide to use a DEQY or SEQY or other query to address earnings in the claimant’s work history.
1. Document the type of query you obtained
Explain what type of query you obtained.
IMPORTANT: Do not print and scan the query into the file. See POMS DI 81020.050 for more information on scanning procedures.
2. Vocational review and development
Match the claimant’s job information in forms and evidence with the yearly earnings listed on the query, or if applicable the earnings from each employer for the year.
As long as you can reasonably match the claimant’s work to the earnings for a year, no additional development is necessary.
You must develop job information for any year that has an earnings level above the SGA level for one month for which there is no corresponding job information since individuals can learn unskilled work in 30 days or less.
If the earnings for a year are not at or above the yearly SGA level, then you need to determine how many months the claimant worked at the job and use the monthly SGA chart to determine whether the job was SGA.
If there are earnings for years that the claimant did not list a job, then you will need to contact the claimant to obtain additional information about work in those years, unless you can reasonably match the earnings to a job listed by the claimant for another year.
EXAMPLE: The claimant indicates he worked from 2001-2002 earning $15,000 each year. If the query shows the claimant worked from 2000 to 2001 earning $15,000 each year it may be reasonable to conclude that the claimant described this work but remembered the years worked incorrectly.
For more information on countable earnings for nonblind employees, see (SGA) Medical-Vocational Quick Reference Guide Monthly SGA Chart for Nonblind Employees in DI 25001.001A.
3. Explain query use
Address material inconsistencies between any query(ies) and job information in forms, evidence, or other statements. Explain how you reconciled any material inconsistencies to reach a conclusion about the job at issue.
4. Items that are not material inconsistencies
The following is a list of items that are not material inconsistencies when reviewing a claimant’s work history:
Gaps in the claimant’s reported work history whenever the work history is documented, unless there are material inconsistencies in what the claimant reported at different times, or on different documents, or there is a material conflict between what he or she reported and other evidence in file;
Differences between official employer names on a query and the employer names reported by a claimant (queries list the name of the parent corporation which may be different from a subsidiary employer); and
Differences between official employer names on a query and the work the claimant reports that he or she did (queries do not describe the type of work that a claimant did).
E. Required actions when unable to resolve material earnings inconsistencies
If you cannot resolve material inconsistencies between earnings information in forms, evidence, other statements, or a query, refer questions about work activity that the field office (FO) may be able to resolve to the FO.
If the claimant or another individual familiar with the claimant’s past work cannot provide the requested information and that information is material to the disability determination, (meaning that expedited vocational assessment at steps 4 and 5 of sequential evaluation does not apply), then you will have to make a determination based on the evidence in file. If you are unable to find the claimant not disabled at step 2 of sequential evaluation or disabled at step 3 of sequential evaluation, you will have to find the claimant not disabled due to insufficient vocational evidence.
F. OQR quality reviewers procedure no query referenced or in file
When there is no query referenced or in file, OQR quality reviewers:
Must not obtain a query even if it appears that a material inconsistency in the claimant’s work history could be resolved with the information from the query.
Should return the case when material inconsistencies exist, specifying for the DDS the inconsistencies that need to be resolved and explained.
Should not instruct the DDS to obtain a query or specify how the disability adjudicator should address any material inconsistency identified by the quality reviewer.
G. OQR quality reviewers procedures query referenced or in file
When there is a query referenced or in file, OQR Quality Reviewers:
May use a query (but only the same query that is in the file, or a query the DDS obtained, referenced or used to conduct their case review, and
May cite deficiencies based on the information the query contains.
NOTE: If the query the DDS used is not in file or clear from the information in the file, OQR quality reviewers may use the SEQY, DEQY or other query in conducting their case review and may cite deficiencies based on the information the queries contain.
H. References
DI 10005.010 Field Office (FO) and Disability Determination Services (DDS) Exchange of Information and Coordination of Actions
DI 22505.020 Developing Evidence through a Field Office (FO) or Another Disability Determination Services (DDS)
DI 23007.005 Failure to Cooperate With Requests to the Claimant for Evidence or Action
DI 81020.100 Electronic Assistance Requests (AR)