In the process of filing for social security disability benefits, claimants are asked to fill out many forms. Some are simple, like a release of information that requires just a signature and witness. Others, like a Work History Report form [SSA-3369-BK] and Function Report-Adult form [SSA-3373-BK] are much more extensive and require a lot of thought and effort for each claimant.
The Work History Report form is sent out early in the process. Each adult applicant is asked to first list the jobs they have had in the last 15 years. Claimants are asked to list the job title, the type of business and the years. For instance, someone might write “Cashier, gas station and 2005-2010.” The next page asks more specific information about the first job list. It asks for the rate of pay, how many hours a week and how many days a week the job was performed. In asking those questions, Social Security is trying to determine if this job was done full or part-time. Social Security will also ask if you tools/machines were used on the job or if the job required technical knowledge or skill. Social Security is trying to determine what skill level the position was performed at.
And lastly Social Security tries to get an understanding of how the job was physically performed. They want to know on average how much you stood, walked and sat during a day. They will ask how much you lifted. It is important to know that Social Security is not asking how much you lifted on a daily basis but what is the heaviest thing you lifted. For instance, if you worked in an office setting and you sometimes, not often, but sometimes lifted boxes of papers, it is important to note that. The next question is how much did you frequent lift, and that is the question where Social Security is asking, in a typical day how much did you lift.
Social Security uses this information to determine your past work. How a claimant’s past work is defined is very important in hearings, particularly when the claimant is over 50 years of age.
It is important to take your time with these forms and complete them as accurately as possible.
