5 tips for completing the current Work History Report on your Disability claim (SSDI)
When applying for Social Security Disability (SSA) benefits, one of the most crucial documents you’ll need to fill out is the Work History Report. This report is vital because it gives the SSA a clear view of your employment background, job responsibilities, and how your health conditions affect your ability to work, and will help determine if you can perform any of your past jobs or if your condition qualifies you for the monthly Disability payments.
For this reason, it’s essential to fill out this report carefully and accurately. Here, at Casa de la Justicia, we will help you by giving you the best tips to fill out this report.
Tip 1: Be Detailed About Your Job Duties
When filling out the Work History Report, don’t just list your job title. Dive into the specifics of your job duties. For each job, explain in detail what tasks you performed daily. Whether you were lifting heavy boxes (how much weight it was), managing a team (how many people you managed), or handling intricate paperwork (how long this would take you), etc., the SSA needs to know to have a complete picture of your day-to-day work experience.
For example, the form may ask, “Describe what you did all day at your job.” Rather than writing simply “office work,” a detailed response would be:
“Answered 50+ customer calls per day, entered data into spreadsheets for 6 hours daily, organized and lifted file boxes up to 20 lbs, coordinated schedules for multiple team members of around 10 people, organized and filed paperwork, delivered documents to different departments across the building, processed invoices.”
The more precise you are, the better the SSA can assess your case.
This information is critical because it shows whether the physical and mental demands of your previous work are compatible with your current health.
Tip 2: Provide Accurate Employment Dates
Many people overlook the importance of providing correct employment dates, but this is also important. Double-check your records to ensure that the start and end dates you list are accurate.
Instead of estimating dates as “2008-2012,” try to list more specific dates like “April 15, 2008 – November 10, 2012″.
Providing accurate dates helps the SSA match your work history with your medical history. It shows whether your health issues began while you were still working or if they developed after you left a job.
Tip 3: Include Information on Any Special Accommodations
If your employer made any accommodations or modifications to your job duties due to your health condition, be sure to include this information.
As an example, these accommodations can be anything like:
My employer allowed me to take extra breaks due to my back pain and reduced my work hours from 8 hours to 5 hours to attend my treatments, my office area was moved from the second floor to the first because my knee pain prevents me from climbing the stairs, reduced my lifting requirements from 50 pounds to 20 pounds, I was assigned someone to help me with my tasks.
The SSA views these accommodations as evidence of your limitations. It shows them that even with help, your condition still made it difficult to perform your job. Listing these details can strengthen your case and help the SSA better understand your situation.
Tip 4: Describe Any Changes in Job Performance Over Time
The SSA wants to know how your condition has affected your ability to perform your job. If your job performance changed over time due to your medical condition, make sure to explain this.
Real-life examples can be: needing to reduce your hours or switch to less demanding tasks, if you needed to take more breaks, call in sick more often, or struggled to keep up with your workload.
Mentioning how your health gradually affected your ability to complete tasks or meet deadlines can make your case more relatable and understandable to the SSA reviewers.
Tip 5: Don’t Skip Over Part-Time or Temporary Jobs
Even if you held a part-time job for a short period, it’s still important to include it in your Work History Report. Temporary or part-time positions can provide a more complete picture of your ability to work. These jobs might also show how your condition limited your ability to maintain steady employment.
All jobs, no matter how short-term or minor they may seem, are relevant. They help the SSA assess whether any job could be manageable for you under your current health conditions. Including this information ensures your report is thorough and gives the SSA all the details they need.
Conclusion
Completing the Work History Report for your SSA Disability application may seem overwhelming, but it’s an essential step. By being thorough, accurate, and honest, you give the SSA a full picture of your work experience and how your condition has impacted your life.
Being represented by a trusted attorney like Casa de la Justicia, we help out with these essential forms from the SSA, giving you the best tips and advice to solidify your case and have a higher chance to win your monthly Disability checks as soon as possible. So call us now with no cost out of pocket to you, no matter at what stage you are in your claim, at 1 800 840 4040!
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