Past Relevant Work: How Your Job History Affects Your Claim
TL;DR: Past relevant work (PRW) is any job you held in the last 15 years at the SGA level for long enough to learn it. At Step 4, the SSA compares your RFC to PRW demands. If you can do any past job as it's generally performed nationally, you're denied. Accurately describing the physical and mental demands of past jobs is critical. Understating demands makes denial more likely. The SSA uses the Dictionary of Occupational Titles to classify your past work.
Your work history is not just background information. It's a key factor in the SSA's decision. At Step 4, the question is whether you can return to any job you've done in the past 15 years. How you describe those jobs can determine whether your claim survives to Step 5.
What Counts as Past Relevant Work
A job qualifies as PRW if it meets all three criteria:
- Performed within the last 15 years
- Performed at the SGA level (you earned enough for it to be considered substantial)
- Performed long enough to learn the job duties (varies by complexity)
In 2025, SGA is defined as earning more than $1,620 per month (or $2,700 if you are blind). Earning above this amount generally means SSA considers you able to work. The Trial Work Period lets you test your ability to work for 9 months without losing benefits. During this period, you receive full SSDI payments regardless of how much you earn. If you want to try working but are afraid of losing benefits, look into the Ticket to Work program. It provides employment support services at no cost and includes built-in safety nets.
How the SSA Classifies Jobs
The SSA uses the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) to classify your past jobs by exertional level (sedentary, light, medium, heavy, very heavy) and skill level (unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled). The DOT description determines how the job is "generally performed in the national economy," not how you specifically did it.
In 2025, SGA is defined as earning more than $1,620 per month (or $2,700 if you are blind). Earning above this amount generally means SSA considers you able to work. The Trial Work Period lets you test your ability to work for 9 months without losing benefits. During this period, you receive full SSDI payments regardless of how much you earn. If you want to try working but are afraid of losing benefits, look into the Ticket to Work program. It provides employment support services at no cost and includes built-in safety nets.
Why Job Description Matters
When you fill out the SSA-3369 (Work History Report), be thorough and accurate about physical demands. If your warehouse job required lifting 75-pound boxes regularly, say so. If you stood for 8 hours straight, document it. If you had to use heavy machinery, describe it.
Understating the demands of past work helps the SSA argue you can return to those jobs. If you say your warehouse job only required lifting 20 pounds and standing occasionally, the SSA may classify it as light work and conclude your RFC allows you to do it.
In 2025, SGA is defined as earning more than $1,620 per month (or $2,700 if you are blind). Earning above this amount generally means SSA considers you able to work. The Trial Work Period lets you test your ability to work for 9 months without losing benefits. During this period, you receive full SSDI payments regardless of how much you earn. If you want to try working but are afraid of losing benefits, look into the Ticket to Work program. It provides employment support services at no cost and includes built-in safety nets.
Skill Transferability
At Step 5, the SSA considers whether skills from your past work transfer to less demanding jobs. Skills are considered transferable if they can be used in other jobs with little or no additional training. After age 55, the SSA requires "very little, if any, vocational adjustment" for skills to count as transferable.
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Related Articles
The SSDI application process takes an average of 3 to 6 months for an initial decision. If denied, the appeals process can add another 12 to 24 months depending on your region. Having complete and detailed medical documentation is the single biggest factor in SSDI approval. Request records from all treating providers before submitting your application. Many claimants benefit from organizing their medical history into a timeline showing how their condition has progressed. This helps SSA reviewers see the full picture without searching through hundreds of pages.
What to Do Next
- Check the current SGA threshold at ssa.gov before accepting any work. Earning above this limit can trigger a review of your disability status.
- Contact your local Ticket to Work program to explore supported employment options that include benefit protections.
- Report any work activity to SSA within 10 days of starting. Unreported work, even below SGA, can create problems later.
- Keep detailed records of any work accommodations you need. These records support your continued eligibility if SSA reviews your case.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does my job history affect my disability claim?
Past relevant work (PRW) is any job you held in the last 15 years at the SGA level for long enough to learn it. At Step 4, the SSA compares your RFC to PRW demands. If you can do any past job as it's generally performed nationally, you're denied.
What Counts as Past Relevant Work?
A job qualifies as PRW if it meets all three criteria: performed within the last 15 years, performed at the SGA level (you earned enough for it to be considered substantial), and performed long enough to learn the job duties (varies by complexity). In 2025, SGA is defined as earning more than $1,620 per month (or $2,700 if you are blind).
How the SSA Classifies Jobs?
The SSA uses the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) to classify your past jobs by exertional level (sedentary, light, medium, heavy, very heavy) and skill level (unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled). The DOT description determines how the job is 'generally performed in the national economy,' not how you specifically did it.
Why Job Description Matters?
When you fill out the SSA-3369 (Work History Report), be thorough and accurate about physical demands. If your warehouse job required lifting 75-pound boxes regularly, say so. If you stood for 8 hours straight, document it. If you had to use heavy machinery, describe it. Understating the demands of past work helps the SSA argue you can return to those jobs.
Can my skills from past work be used in other jobs?
At Step 5, the SSA considers whether skills from your past work transfer to less demanding jobs. Skills are considered transferable if they can be used in other jobs with little or no additional training. After age 55, the SSA requires 'very little, if any' additional training for skills to be transferable.