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Imagine applying for Social Security disability benefits only to be told you don’t qualify because you still have the ability to perform a job that’s all but extinct, such as nut sorter or canary breeder.
For thousands of applicants each year, that’s exactly what happened. As a final step in processing a disability claim, the Social Security Administration (SSA) compares an applicant’s skills to those on a list of more than 12,000 careers called the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT). The problem is most of the DOT was last updated in 1977, meaning some of the jobs that were available in significant numbers then are no longer around.
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SSA is taking steps to rectify this. The agency announced it would no longer use 114 obsolete occupations listed in the DOT when making a determination that someone is “not disabled.” The agency said 13 DOT occupations could be used in a “not disabled” determination only if evidence can be shown that enough jobs in that field actually exist.
“It makes sense to identify occupations that now exist in very limited numbers in the national economy,” SSA Commissioner Martin O’Malley said. “By making this update, our decision-makers will no longer cite these jobs when denying a disability application.”
Some jobs fall victim to changing times, technology
The occupations SSA is removing from its list offer a snapshot of the job opportunities nearly five decades ago for people with disabilities that limited their mobility. These roles became obsolete as technologies emerged, social trends changed people’s habits or — often enough — both. For example, jobs related to the manufacture or repair of watches and clocks account for 17 of the 114 occupations SSA is removing from consideration. Since smartphones, tablets and other digital devices keep time among the dozens of functions they offer, watches have largely been reduced to fashion accessories rather than necessities.
Some of the other jobs on the list can seem almost absurd from a 2024 perspective. Here’s a sampling of 10 of the occupations that will no longer be used to determine that someone does not qualify for disability benefits because they’re potentially qualified for one of these roles.
Canary breeder was a job that could disqualify you from a Social Security disability claim.
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Canary breeder. This job is perhaps the most surprising on the list, but according to the DOT, this was an occupation as late as the 1970s. The birds’ popularity as pets declined, as did their use as living carbon monoxide detectors in coal mines (which canaries were used for as late as 1986).
Character impersonator. Think of a shopping mall Santa Claus, birthday party clowns or mascots who march in parades, and you get a picture of this profession. These roles typically are more of a side hustle rather than a full-time job in today’s economy.
Directory assistance operator. Directory assistance still exists, but you’ll get the information from automated technology rather than an actual person. There are still 4,600 people working as operators, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, mostly in hospitals.
Fur farmer. Fur coats were desirable luxury items for most of the 20th century. Changing tastes in fashion and opinions on animal rights led to a decline in demand for coats, which largely put an end to this profession.
Motion-picture projectionist. Most movie theaters use digital projectors, making film projection more of a specialty skill than a common profession. As theaters struggle to pull audiences away from home streaming services, job opportunities at cinemas in general may be harder to come by.
Motorboat operator. Only 2,700 people nationwide were employed in this field in 2023, the BLS says. Over the past five decades, motorboats have become common enough that operating one is no longer a stand-alone job.
Nut sorter. New technologies mean that people no longer must watch nuts move along conveyor belts to remove defective ones, rocks or other foreign matter that may have snuck on to the production line.
Pneumatic tube operators have all but disappeared.
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Pneumatic tube operator. Instant messaging and email have made it faster and easier for coworkers to collaborate than the 20th-century technology of pneumatic tubes ever could. Nevertheless, the ping of digital notification may not be quite as satisfying as the whoosh of one of these tubes delivering mail or maybe even money (at a bank, at least).
Watch repairer. Time could be running out for this profession, based on the jobs SSA is removing from its list. There always will be some demand for repairs on luxury watches, but that’s a specialized market.
Wire transfer clerk. In the era of cryptocurrency, online investing and mobile cash apps, wire transfers aren’t as valuable a service as they once were. These jobs still exist but not in the same numbers.
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