Step 4 of Disability: Can You Do Your Past Relevant Work?

When you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a 5-step sequential evaluation process to decide whether you are disabled.

Step 4 is one of the most important — and most misunderstood — parts of the process:

Step 4 asks:

Can you still perform your past relevant work?

If SSA decides you can return to any of your past relevant jobs — even if you would not actually be hired today — your claim may be denied at this step.

Understanding how Step 4 works can make a huge difference in how your disability case is evaluated.

What Counts as “Past Relevant Work”?

Not every job you’ve ever had is considered. SSA only looks at work that is:

✔ Performed in the last 15 years
✔ Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA-level earnings)
✔ Performed long enough for you to learn it

If a job doesn’t meet these criteria, SSA does not count it as past relevant work.

SSA Looks at the Job — Not Just How You Performed It

SSA evaluates your past work in two ways:

1. The job as you actually performed it

How you personally carried out the job duties
(e.g., lifting, standing, bending, mental demands, stress level)

2. The job as it is generally performed in the national economy

Based on the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT)

If SSA finds you can perform either version, your claim may be denied at Step 4.

Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) Is Key at Step 4

Before Step 4, SSA determines your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) — meaning:

What you can still do despite your medical impairments

RFC includes:

Sitting / standing / walking limits
Lifting and carrying restrictions
Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, or climb
Need for breaks or rest
Mental functioning (concentration, pace, stress tolerance)
Use of hands
Attendance & reliability

Your RFC is then compared to the demands of your past work.

If your limitations conflict with the physical or mental demands of your past jobs, you cannot do your past relevant work — and the case moves to Step 5.

Examples of Step 4 Decisions

Example 1 — Back Pain Case

Past work: warehouse laborer (heavy work)
RFC: limited to sedentary lifting

Outcome: Cannot return to past work → moves to Step 5

Example 2 — Depression & Anxiety Case

Past work: cashier
RFC: unable to tolerate public interaction or fast-paced work

Outcome: Likely cannot perform past work

Example 3 — Carpal Tunnel Case

Past work: data entry clerk
RFC: limited fine manipulation with hands

Outcome: Past work likely eliminated

Why Step 4 Is Often Misunderstood

Many people think:

“If my old employer wouldn’t hire me now, I should qualify.”

But SSA asks a different question:

Do you still have the physical and mental capacity to perform the job — whether or not you’d be hired?

That’s why medical evidence and clear documentation are critical.

Your Work History Form Matters — A LOT

SSA uses your Work History Report (SSA-3369) to determine:

How much you lifted
How long you stood/sat
Whether the job required climbing or bending
Whether you worked with people
Whether the job required fast pace or stress
Level of skill and training

If your form is incomplete or inaccurate, SSA may mistakenly believe you can still do the job.

A disability attorney can help ensure your work history accurately reflects the real demands of your job.

Winning at Step 4 Often Comes Down to Evidence

Successful Step 4 outcomes usually include:

✔ Consistent medical treatment
✔ Clear functional limitations
✔ RFC forms from treating providers
✔ Detailed work history
✔ Hearing testimony (if applicable)
✔ Supportive doctor opinions

SSA needs to see how your impairments limit your abilities, not just your diagnosis.

What Happens If SSA Decides You Cannot Return to Past Work?

Good news:

👉 Your case proceeds to Step 5

At Step 5, SSA determines whether any other work exists in the national economy that you can perform.

This is where many disability cases are ultimately won.

Final Thoughts: Step 4 Is a Critical Turning Point in Disability Cases

Step 4 is where SSA decides whether your medical limitations prevent you from performing the work you’ve done in the past 15 years. Strong medical documentation, accurate work history, and a clearly defined RFC are essential.

At Crossroads Disability, we help clients: