One of the major hurdles in getting approved for SSDI benefits is effectively demonstrating to the administration that you are no longer capable of performing the type of work that you did prior to your impairment

When you apply, you will give the disability examiner or administrative law judge determining your case a comprehensive work history, describing all of your relevant employment in detail.

Once you’ve determined which jobs to describe, how should you describe them? Typically, the SSA is looking for:

  • Your job title.
  • How long you were at the job.
  • How much training you received.
  • The job environment.
  • Tools and equipment needed.
  • Key duties necessary to the job, such as money handling or working with the public.
  • Physical tasks performed on a regular basis, including estimates of time spent walking, standing, sitting, squatting, and bending in the course of a shift; how much and how often did you need to lift, etc.
  • Average weekly hours.
  • Any specialized training or supervision you needed.
  • Any special accommodations made for you by your employer.
  • How often you needed time off, needed to take extra breaks, or leave early for reasons related to your impairment.
  • Why the job ended.

Be forthcoming and honest with this information. If the examiner or judge gets the impression that you’ve omitted important information in an attempt to minimize transferable skills, it could severely damage your chances of approval.

If you’re not sure how to present your work history, talk to a Bellevue SSDI lawyer before you file your initial application for benefits. Reach Cuddigan Law at 402-933-5405 or [email protected]. Our informative report, Give Yourself the Best Chance of Winning Your Social Security Disability Case, is available free to your request.

Sean D. Cuddigan
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SSA and VA Disability Attorney in Omaha, Nebraska
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