Skip to main content

DESCRIBING PAST RELEVANT WORK - WHY IT IS CRITICAL

When you apply for Social Security disability, the Disability Determination Service (DDS) will mail you some additional forms to complete and return.

One of those forms will be a Work History Report.  This report will ask for a history of your past work over the last 15 years.  Frankly, this form is one of the most complicated and confusing that you will encounter.

There is an entire page devoted to each one of your past jobs.  You will be asked to describe what you did in the job.  You will be asked to estimate how much you lifted frequently and as a maximum.  You will estimate how much you sat, stood, walked, reached, handled, crouched, stooped, crawled, handled, etc.  These functions are to be estimated by the number of hours you performed each function.

Why in the world does Social Security need this level of detail?  Why can't you just ignore this form, or skip over the details?  Here's why:

Social Security is trying to determine if you are still able to perform the functions required of each past job.  In other words, can you still do the sitting, standing, bending, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, handling, etc. that each job requires?  If you can, you are not disabled under their rules.  If you cannot, you may be disabled.

The Work History Report is, honestly, frighteningly detailed.  It asks you to think about your work in a way you've never thought about it before.  I mean, who remembers if they reached overhead 2.4 hours a day?  Or, you knows if they spend 0.5 hours a day stooping?  But you must give this a fair an honest estimate.  If you don't, you may get the initial claim denied and also jeopardize your chances of a successful appeal--because the Work History Report follows you all the way through the appeal process.

I have actually seen cases won (and lost) because the Work History Report was accurately and completely filled out by the claimant or his representative.  It's probably the one form in the entire process that I think is worth having a professional assist you with--to be sure it is done right!


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SOCIAL SECURITY PAY INCREASE FOR 2025

  Social Security benefits will increase by 2.5 percent or an average of about $48 per month in 2025.   The Social Security Administration announced the COLA increase on October 10, 2024 which will take effect in January, 2025. The Part B Medicare premium (the part you pay for Medicare) also increased from $174.20 for most beneficiaries to $185 per month. I find it interesting that the government increased the Medicare premium 5.9 percent for 2025 but only gave recipients a 2.5 percent increase in benefits. If you or someone you love needs Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits, contact Charles W. Forsythe at the Forsythe Firm in Huntsville, AL.  I have helped thousands of claimants get approved in the "dumpster fire" process known as Social Security disability.   We charge no fee for consultations or case evaluations.  You will never pay us a fee until after you are approved and received your lump sum past due benefits. Our fees are controlled by the S...
Post a Comment
Read more

YOUR CHILDREN MAY ALSO GET DISABILITY BENEFITS!

  Social Security disability may replace some income for adults who become disabled due to a physical or mental impairment.  It may also pay benefits to dependent children who are under 18 years old--or up to age 19 if they are still in high school. Dependent children are usually eligible to receive a benefit in addition to their parent who has become disabled.   Disability has an impact on the entire family.  Children continue to need food, clothing, education and medical/dental care.  Dependent's benefits from Social Security can help cover these expenses for a disabled parent. If your disability claim is being handled by a professional--an advocate or attorney--he/she will be sure to protect your children's rights to benefits.  If you are handling your own claim, be sure to notify Social Security that you have dependent children when you apply for benefits.  When benefits are approved, contact your local Social Security field office (not the he...
Post a Comment
Read more

CONTINGENCY FEE - SOCIAL SECURITY DISABIITY AID

  Legal aid is available to you on a contingency basis.  This means that you pay nothing now and a fee will be charged only if your case is successful.  If not, you will pay nothing. The Forsythe Firm in Huntsville exclusively handles Social Security Disability (SSDI) cases and nothing else.  We have handled thousands of cases and have a solid track record of success.  You will never pay us a fee unless you win your disability case or appeal AND collect past due benefits.  And we'll put that in writing. This "contingency fee" arrangement allows you to get top notch representation for your Social Security claim with the certainty that any fee you pay will be based on a positive result that puts money in your pocket! WHY DO YOU NEED SOCIAL SECURITY REPRESENTATION? 1.  Social Security laws and regulations are complex, technical and often confusing.  Our experienced advocates understand all the rules and are trained to handle them. 2.  Social Sec...
Post a Comment
Read more