The SSA Work History Report (Form SSA-3369) allows claimants to list all jobs they held for the last 15 years before they could not work due to illnesses, conditions, or injuries.
The SSA Work History Reports help the Disability Determination Services (DDS) to understand how your illnesses, conditions, or injuries prevent you from being able to perform your past relevant work.
Through this form, the SSA (Social Security Administration) determines what jobs you can do and whether your options are limited enough for you to qualify for benefits.
How Your Work History Impacts Your SSDI and SSI Claims
If you’re 49 years old or younger, the work history report is less crucial to the SSA’s decision to grant you disability benefits. At said ages, the administration may only use the report to identify other occupations you can do with your transferable skills.
But if you’re aged 50 and above, the work history report becomes important in proving your disability and receiving your benefits. In said age range, you are considered under the GRID rules.
The vocational GRID rules are based on your work history report. If you stated that your job as a janitor involved mostly sitting down when, in fact, you were on your feet all day, this could potentially preclude you from disability benefits.
How Your Work History Impacts Your SSDI and SSI Claims
Skill transferability becomes an issue as SSA must determine jobs using the same tools, work processes, and industry as those used in your relevant past work experience.
SSA may struggle to transition you to other vocations when you’re 50-55 years old as you’re “Approaching Advanced Age” under GRID rules. If you’re above 55 years old, SSA may only offer you jobs you can do that are sedentary work with no transferable skills.
SSA has two goals when reviewing your work history report:
- Determine jobs you can still do despite your illnesses, conditions, and injuries.
- Determine if your job options are limited enough that you qualify for disability benefits.
Therefore, your goals upon filling out your work history report are:
- List out your transferable skills for the last 15 years before the date of your disability to avoid getting unskilled, dead-end jobs.
- Give a clear picture of the nature of your past jobs of the said 15 years to prove why you can no longer do them due to your disability.
The Importance of Employment Information Accuracy in Your Work History Report
SSA will use whatever you include in this form about your past work. People often make errors filling out this form, and DDS can then use their own answers against them, affecting their chances of getting SSDI and SSI benefits.
For example, a person could list jobs beyond the last 15 years or fill out the form like a job application, bolstering their old positions. SSA can use the faulty information to deny them disability benefits and prove they can return to their old jobs.
Tips for Filling Out SSA’s Work History Report Form
Here are some fast tips on filling out your work history report as accurately as possible:
- Use your old W2 forms to help you remember your job history and how much you made with them within the 15 years before your disability.
- Never write your job title; write the job that you did. For example, if your professional title is production associate who assembles air conditioners, you can write “air conditioner assembler” to fully show the nature of your work.
- This is not the time to make yourself look better. For example, if you’re a salesman in a shoe store, you may want to write it down as manager. This will only make DDS mistake you for employment skills that you don’t have and may list down work that you can do that requires managerial skills.
- A job is a job, even a part-time one, that lasts more than six months, and your earnings from it are above the substantial gainful activity.
- Every job requires lifting, even office jobs, which occasionally require lifting boxes of papers. Include what objects you have lifted in your job description, and search the web for how heavy they are.
- Never leave a question unanswered. If the question doesn’t apply to you, write “n/a” for not applicable. If you’re unsure about the answer, simply write “unsure.” This way, your submission will not be marked as incomplete.
Benefits of Working with a Social Security Disability Representative
Doing government paperwork can be daunting. Most people would rather be done with it as soon as possible. However, completing the Work History Report is one of the most crucial documents to submit. While SSA can learn about your health from your medical records, their only reporting about your work history is you.
If you do it right, it works to your advantage. If not, your work history report can work against you.
Having a Social Security attorney by your side can increase your chances of getting viable job options and claiming SSI and SSDI benefits.
Let Us Help You: No Benefits, No Fee
Are you seeking assistance with your SSA Work History Report in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, or California? Look no further than the Marken Law Group. Our team will guide you through the complexities of SSA Work History Report-related matters and act as your representative. We don’t charge you unless we successfully secure the benefits you’re entitled to.
Ready to make your Work History Report more manageable? Schedule a free consultation with us today.
