HOW TO FILL OUT SSA’S WORK HISTORY FORM

WHAT IS SSA’S WORK HISTORY REPORT FORM?

Do you know how to fill out SSA’s Work History form? If you are asking yourself this question, then that is good! You should worry about what you write on the forms that you send to Social Security.

Believe it or not, the work history form is the most important form you will fill out for the SSA. It is more important than telling the SSA about your medical condition. Why? Because the SSA can always read your medical records (and they will) to learn about your health. But, you are the person who tells them about your past work.

Whatever you tell them about your past work is what they are going to believe. Unfortunately, most people do not know how to fill out the work history report. Subsequently, the form is used against them to prove they can return to their old job.

Therefore, you want to make sure you fill out this form right. If you do so, then it won’t damage your SSD case. Learn about other SSA forms under Client Application & Appeal Forms.

FILLING OUT THE WORK HISTORY REPORT FORM 

The Work History form is evidence in your SSDI and SSI case. The state office that reviews your case uses the form to prove you can do your old job. How can they do that?

They can do it, because most people don’t fill out the form correctly. Once you have sent in the form, they use your own answers against you. If you fill out the form as if it is a resume, then it is easy for the SSA to argue that, despite your medical condition, you can still do your old job.

There are three main errors that most people make when they fill out the form. Try to avoid these errors and it will improve your chances of winning your SSDI and SSI benefits.

FIRST ERROR: INCLUDING EVERY JOB YOU EVER DID INSTEAD OF THE JOBS YOU DID IN THE LAST 5 YEARS

The Work History report asks that you write down all of the jobs you have had in the last 5 years. The SSA defines past jobs as working 40 hours a week and earning more than $1000-$1550 in a month. It is also when you work at a job longer than 3 months.

Jobs can also count as “jobs” if you work part time for longer than 6 months and earned over the substantial gainful activity level. For 2024, the substantial gainful activity (SGA) level is $1550 per month. You may have skills from a part time job if your earnings were over the SGA level. If you were under the SGA level and the job didn’t last more than 6 months, don’t include it. Because it is an unsuccessful work attempt.

As a general rule, if you work a job longer than three months in the last 5 years, then you should include the job on your list. What you should not include on the list are jobs you did over 5 years ago! You should also be very careful to correctly state the time frames in which you did the job. For example, many people aren’t sure when they worked at certain jobs. Do you best to make your answers contain the correct information.

Additionally, in June 2024, the SSA changed the definition of past work. Instead of 15 years of past jobs, they only ask you to go back 5 years. Learn about work credits and how to qualify for SSDI benefits.

IF YOU CAN’T REMEMBER YOUR WORK HISTORY – DO THIS

If you can’t remember your job history, then go to the Social Security website and create a personal account. It takes five minutes to create an account and it will list the money you earn every year. From that list, you should be able to remember the jobs you have done in the last 5 years.

Other options are to look at copies of your taxes. Your old W2 forms will show you how much money you earned and where you were employed. Make sure you don’t include jobs that you performed over 5 years ago. Likewise, make sure your list only includes jobs that were longer than one month.

Finally, when it asks you to include your job title, do not write down the job title that was on your name tag. Instead, write down what you did. For example, if you work at a factory that assembles airbags for cars, your job title at work might be “production associate.”

Unfortunately, that job title doesn’t give the SSA much information.  Don’t write down your job title from work. Instead, write down what you did. For example, instead of writing a title like “production associate,” you should write “airbag assembly.” That way the SSA will know what you really did at your job.

SECOND ERROR:  STATING THAT YOU DON’T LIFT ANYTHING

You DO lift! You do!

Even if you are sitting at a desk, you must lift items in order to work. Never write that you “never” lift anything at work.

One of the biggest mistakes people make on the Work History form is stating they never lift anything at work. Every single job in the entire country requires some ability to lift. The SSA puts jobs into categories based on how much lifting the job requires.

For example, desk jobs requires 10 pounds or less of lifting. Light work is 20 pounds or less of lifting. Medium work is lifting no more than 50 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects that weigh up to 25 pounds. If someone can do medium work, then they can also do seated and light work. Of course, there are other elements of how to define work, but lifting is the most important one.

IF YOU DON’T KNOW THE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT YOU LIFTED – LOOK IT UP!

On the Work History form, you should be very careful about what you write down when it asks you what you lifted at work. The form asks you to write down the heaviest weight you lifted on the job. It also asks you to explain it. Before you answer, think about it.

Did you lift a 5 gallon bucket of paint? A 5 gallon bucket of paint weighs approximately 60 pounds. Perhaps you had to lift boxes of copy paper? A standard box of 10 reams of copy paper weighs 25 pounds. The best thing to do is think of the item that weighed the most which you had to lift. You can even look it up online to see what it weighs. Then write down that amount.

Most people at work, lift and carry far more than they think they do. Even with office work, you typically have to lift boxes of copy paper. Make sure you answer this question correctly. Do not write, “there was no lifting,” because it simply is not true. In every single job you must lift and carry items – even if it is files, a laptop, or other tools.

THIRD ERROR:  CLAIMING YOU ARE A MANAGER OR SUPERVISOR WHEN YOU ARE NOT

When most people fill out a resume, they are trying to present themselves to employers in the best possible light. However, the Work History form is not a resume. You should not include information from your resume on your Work History report.

For example, a resume may include flowery language. Or, it may discuss everything you did on a past job. Even if you did it for a very short time. It also may include every job you have ever done, which is also not helpful. The form you are filling out for the SSA should only include the jobs you have done in the last five years.

Do not treat the Work History form like a resume. This is not the time to blow your own horn. The Work History report is for you to write down the facts. Just include the jobs you have done in the last five years. State what you did on the job, not your job title. Also, include the amount of money you earn per hour and the start and stop dates of the job.

STICK TO THE FACTS – DO NOT CLAIM SKILLS THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE

For example, let’s say you worked at McDonald’s and your main job was making hamburgers. But you decide to make yourself look better and say you were the “assistant manager.” You decide to say this because once a week, the manager let you lock up the store at night. Perhaps you think that stating you are an “assistant manager” instead of a “hamburger cook” will make you look better to the SSA. But it doesn’t help you. Instead, it makes the SSA think you have a lot of skills that you don’t really have.

As a “hamburger cook” you didn’t run the cash register and you didn’t set the schedule. Also, you did not do payroll. Or, take money to the bank. You also didn’t manage other people. But if you write you were the “assistant manager,” when you weren’t, then the SSA will believe you have skills. This will happen, even if you don’t really have those skills. Claiming you are something that you aren’t or giving yourself a fancy title on the Work History report is a big mistake. Don’t do it.

Let’s discuss another example. Pretend you work in a beauty salon and you paint nails for a living. Would you write down on the form that you “supervise” your clients? The answer is no. If you paint nails, then you are not “supervising” your clients. This is the kind of language that gets people into trouble with the SSA. Talking to your clients is not acting as their supervisor. And yes, this is a true example of how people try to make themselves sound better on the form. But, it doesn’t help them.

HOW TO GET HELP FILLING OUT YOUR WORK HISTORY FORM

When you hire us, we will help you complete your work history form. We think filling out SSA’s forms is one of the most important things you can do in your case. But, we want to make sure you do it correctly.

Also, we will help you file your application for benefits. You can file online at the Social Security website.  We will also help you file your appeals when the SSA denies your case. Make sure you hire an attorney with years of legal experience to help you throughout the SSA’s five step review process.

Filling out the work history form is hard. You may think you should just do it quickly and get it in. But that is not a good idea. In our opinion, this is one of the main reasons to hire our law firm. Most law firms do not help you complete forms. But we do. We believe in our clients. Additionally, we believe that everyone deserves legal help in their case. Our legal team is on your side.

THE BEST LEGAL TEAM FOR YOUR SSD CASE

You need an SSD attorney to help you with your case. Our lawyers can represent you in Utah, Idaho, Nevada, and California. If you want to find out more about your legal team, then review information About Us.

Dianna Cannon has been helping her clients win SSD benefits for over 30 years. She has a license in Utah, Nevada, and California. Brett Bunkall has won hundreds of cases in Utah. He also has a license to practice in Idaho. Andria Summers has over 20 years of experience helping our clients win SSDI and SSI benefits. The SSA has lawyers on their side. You need a legal team on your side.

Hire the best legal team with no money up front.  We won over $100 million in benefits for our clients. Contact us today to hire a Social Security attorney with experience. You have nothing to lose by hiring us. Because, we only get paid an attorney fee if you win your case. You read that correctly. We only charge an attorney fee if we win your case. Let us help you complete your work history form. Contact us today.