Does Work History Matter When Applying for SSDI?

One of the most important factors in determining your eligibility for Social Security Disability (SSDI) benefits is your work history.

When the Social Security Administration receives your SSDI application, your medical condition will be matched against the official “Blue Book” of severe impairments. If your disability does not correspond to any entry there, the next step is to evaluate your functional capacity.

Job Skills and Prior Jobs Assessed for SSDI Eligibility

With the help of a medical consultant, the disability examiner will review your medical records. The examiner will look to see if your medical condition prevents you from performing your current work, a past job or any work to which you may be suited.

Does your capacity for work, or your functional capacity, allow you to return to your job or transfer to another? Here is the assessment process:

• Can you return to your prior work or a relevant job that you have had in the past 15 years? All job requirements from all of your prior jobs will be studied. In order for the examiner to do this, your SSDI application must contain all details and requirements of prior work to allow for a fair decision.
• Can you transfer to another job type because of your job skills? If the examiner concludes that you will not be able to return to any prior job, he or she will then assess your job skills to determine if they are transferable to another job. Here again, it’s important that your application be complete and accurate so the examiner will not have to “guess” or make assumptions about skills that you really don’t have.

So that your SSDI application may be properly evaluated, be sure that it contains ample job duty and work history information. Include past supervisor names and contact information in case the claims examiner wants to call them to get more details.

As you can see, having a medical condition that meets the Social Security Administration’s definition of disability is not enough to be deemed eligible for SSDI. It’s essential that you also prove that your condition prevents you from working to satisfy the claims examiner.

We Can Help Get Your Social Security Disability Application Approved

If you or a loved one has been denied Worker’s Compensation or Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, it’s important to get an attorney experienced in these types of cases involved immediately.  Call 800.438.7734 for your initial free consultation, either in our office or in the comfort of your own home.  The Kenton Koszdin Law Office, Social Security attorney in Van Nuys, can help you navigate the application process for the best possible outcome for you and your family.