Social Security does not count every job you have ever had when it reviews a disability claim. It only considers Past Relevant Work, which are jobs that meet the following four criteria:
The Four Requirements
Social Security will only consider a job as Past Relevant Work if you can answer yes to all of these:
1) You Did the Job Within the Past Five Years
The job must fall within the five-year period Social Security reviews. In most cases, Social Security counts back five years from the date it decides your claim. An older job usually does not count.
2) You Had the Job for at Least 30 Days
The job must have lasted at least 30 calendar days in a row. A job that started and ended in fewer than 30 calendar days does not count as past relevant work.
3) You Earned Enough for the Work to Count
Social Security calls this Substantial Gainful Activity, or SGA. It means you earned a minimum amount at that job each month. That amount changes from year to year, so Social Security looks at the rate that corresponds with the time you worked.
4) You Worked Long Enough to Learn the Job
You must have worked long enough at the position to learn how to do the job. A simple job may take only a short time to learn. A harder job may take months or years. Having a job title does not always mean you had time to learn the whole job.
Here, Social Security looks at what you can still do with the health problems you have. It then compares those limits with the duties of your past relevant work. Social Security looks at your former jobs in two ways:
1) How you actually did the job.
This includes how much you lifted, how long you sat or stood, and the tasks you completed.
2) How the job is usually done.
Social Security may also look at how employers usually expect workers to perform that type of job.
If Social Security decides that you can still do even one past relevant job, it may find that you are not disabled. It does not matter whether your former employer would hire you again or whether that job is available near your home.
If you cannot do any of your past relevant work, the claim usually moves forward. The next decision that is made by Social Security is whether there are other jobs you may be able to do.
Your Work History Matters
Be clear when you describe your old jobs. A job title alone does not show what you actually did. Explain how much you lifted, how long you sat, stood, or walked, what tasks you completed, and whether you received any special help from your coworkers. Also give correct dates, hours, and pay.
The Bottom Line
A former job is Past Relevant Work only if it meets all four rules. It must be recent enough, have lasted last at least 30 calendar days, involved enough earnings, and lasted long enough for you to learn it.
Past Relevant Work can decide whether your claim is denied or moves forward to the next phase. Every claim is different, and Disability Advocates can help you with any questions you have about your work history.