Importance of Work History

To start with, those who have a strong work history are more likely to be eligible for SSDI (Disability) benefits.  This is because the more you work, the more you pay into the Social Security system.  Typically, those with very little (or no) past work are only eligible for SSI (Supplemental Security Income) benefits, which turn out to be much less than Disability benefits.

But let’s say you are eligible for SSDI (disability) benefits based on your past work.  How, then, does your past work influence your disability claim?

Before we proceed, I must remind you that to be considered disabled by SSA, it must be determined that you are unable to work any job – including a simple, sit-down, entry-level type job. Being deemed disabled involves far more than your illness. It ultimately involves whether you can work.

I say this in hopes that you will start to view Social Security Disability as more a vocational matter than a medical matter. The crux of the issue, in Social Security’s eyes, is whether you can work.  In determining this, Social Security looks at your past work in order to get an idea of your vocational abilities or limitations.

For example, say you worked 20 years in an unskilled position as a factory laborer.  The Judge is more likely to assess your claim assuming you are not able to work a white collar job.  Your capacity for work is somewhat limited since there are fewer jobs you are able to jump into. Conversely, say you had a job in which you wrote reports, used various computer programs, etc. The Judge may view your claim in a different light, since these job skills are considered “transferable.”  In a case like the latter, that’s when your medical condition and/or age are of crucial importance in determining whether you are able to work.

But in a case where your past work is unskilled and you have few (or no) transferable job skills, you may be more likely to get approved for benefits. This is especially true if you are over age 50 and have limited education. In this case, you may meet a grid rule and be approved automatically. To learn more about the grid rules, please click on the link.

We have seen that your past work sort of defines your vocational abilities and limitations. But how else can past work influence the outcome of your claim? Interestingly, I ave noticed that Judges tend to favor those with a strong, consistent work background. If you have put 10-20 (or more) years into a profession and now have a serious medical condition, many Judges seem to give you a break and grant you benefits. If you jump around from job to job or in any way appear to be someone who simply doesn’t want to work, then the Judge may be less likely to grant your case.  So it always a good policy to work if you can, and if you feel totally unable, then let us help you with your case.