The Social Security Administration is in charge of an important program to help provide financial relief for those who cannot work, which is SSDI. This program has complex eligibility requirements, making the application process difficult. As of June 2024, the Social Security Administration has made updates as to how eligibility for SSDI is determined, primarily relating to work history requirements. In this blog, we will be going over these changes to work history requirements for SSDI and how they affect applicants.
Work History Requirement Update
As a response to President Biden’s Executive Order on improving federal services, the Social Security Administration announced a new rule to hopefully eliminate administrative burdens and wait times for disability benefit applicants. The new rule, which was put into place starting in June 2024, states that the Social Security Administration will only review the past five years of work history when assessing whether an applicant can perform any “past relevant work,” replacing the previous 15-year requirement. Additionally, jobs that lasted less than 30 days will no longer be considered.
The Social Secuirty Administration stated how the previous policy required people to provide detailed information about 15 years of work history, which was hard for people to remember and led to incomplete or inaccurate reporting. This change should make it easier for the Social Secuirty Administration to assess work history and improve accuracy by focusing on longer, more relevant job periods that better reflect an applicant’s work ability.
Read More: Can You Qualify For SSDI if You’ve Never Worked?
How This Change Affects SSDI Applicants
The recent adjustment to the work history requirement for SSDI applicants simplifies the process by focusing on the past five years of work instead of the previous 15-year period requirement.
Here’s how this change can positively impact SSDI applicants:
1. Easier Documentation: Applicants now only need to provide details about their work history for the past five years. This change eliminates the need to document a longer work history, which can be challenging for individuals with extensive or complex employment backgrounds.
2. Quicker Decisions: By only needing to provide recent work history, the Social Security Administration can process SSDI claims more efficiently. This helps reduce wait times, allowing applicants to receive decisions faster.
3. Focus on Relevant Experience: The new rule focuses on recent work experience, which is often a better indicator of an applicant’s current work capability.
4. Reduced Burden: The simplified requirement means applicants wont have to go through and report on over a decade of work history, which can be time-consuming and overwhelming.
Learn More: How Does SSDI Work if You Were Self-Employed?
Potential Disadvantages for SSDI Applicants
While the new work requirement simplifies the SSDI application process, there are also potential disadvantages:
1. Limited Historical Context: By focusing only on the past five years, the Social Security Administration may overlook relevant work experience from earlier years. For applicants with a longer history of relevant work, this simplified timeline might not fully capture their employment capabilities or skills.
2. Impact on Those with Interrupted Careers: Applicants who experienced gaps or frequent changes in their work history due to their disability might find it difficult to meet the SSDI requirements based solely on recent employment.The exclusion of jobs lasting less than 30 days could be particularly unhelpful for those who have had short-term but relevant employment.
3. Increased Pressure on Recent Employment: The new rule places more emphasis on recent work history. For applicants whose most recent jobs are less reflective of their overall work experience or who have had recent job-related issues due to their disability, this could impact their eligibility negatively.
4. Inconsistent Application: The focus on recent work history might lead to inconsistencies in how disability claims are evaluated. Some applicants might benefit from the new rule, while others might face disadvantages, leading to uneven decision-making outcomes.
Seeking Professional Guidance
The shift to focusing on the past five years of work for SSDI applications is a major change in how work history is evaluated. This update can simplify the process and make assessments more relevant, but it may also create challenges for those with long or interrupted careers.
If you’re navigating the SSDI application process and need guidance on how these changes might affect your claim, contact Tabak Law. Our experienced team can help you understand the new requirements, ensure your application is thorough and accurate, and assist in addressing any challenges you might face. Reach out today to take the next step towards securing the benefits you deserve.
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