When applying for Social Security disability benefits, the first part of the process is to determine your eligibility. The Social Security Administration uses a medical guide, the Blue Book, to decide if your illness or condition calls for disability payments.
Though your condition may be severe, it’s not a guarantee that you’ll be approved for benefits when applying for SSDI. The SSA evaluates your remaining capabilities, known as your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC), to determine what work you can still perform. This means you need to prove that your current condition prohibits you from performing either the job you’re qualified for or the job that you’ve performed within the past 15 years.
What is Past-Relevant Work?
Once your RFC is determined, you will get a rating for what work you’re able to perform. This scale includes heavy, medium, light, sedentary and less-than-sedentary work. Less-than-sedentary work means you’ll likely get SSDI or SSI benefits.
With any other rating, the SSA determines what type of work you can perform. You will need to prove that you can’t perform in your current job, and you can’t succeed in other jobs, which is done through a work history report form.
Past-relevant work, which is what is used for your disability application, only applies to the work history in the past 15 years. You must also prove that you earned a substantial amount each month and you worked long enough to learn your job.
Will I Need Help Proving My Disability?
If a current medical condition rendered you unable to work, you may need the help of a disability attorney to assist with your claim, such as Decker Law Office. A complete and accurate work history may mean the difference for your case, so contact us today for your free consultation!