Social Security Work History Report: Why It Matters

When you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security doesn’t just look at your medical records. One of the most important forms you’ll complete is the Work History Report (Form SSA-3369).

This form can make or break your disability case. Many claims are denied not because the person isn’t disabled, but because their work history was filled out inaccurately or incompletely.

Understanding how the Work History Report is used — and how to complete it correctly — is critical.

What Is the Social Security Work History Report?

The Work History Report is a form Social Security uses to understand:

What jobs you performed in the past
How physically and mentally demanding those jobs were
Whether you can still do that work today

Social Security focuses on your past relevant work, which generally means jobs you performed:

✔ Within the last 15 years
✔ At substantial gainful activity (SGA) levels
✔ Long enough to learn the job

The information you provide is used primarily at Step 4 of the disability evaluation process.

Why the Work History Report Is So Important

Social Security compares your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) — what you can still do despite your impairments — to the demands of your past work.

If SSA believes you can still perform any of your past relevant jobs, your claim can be denied, even if:

The job no longer exists
You wouldn’t be hired today
You can’t work full time anymore

That’s why accuracy and detail matter so much.

What Social Security Looks For on This Form

SSA is not interested in job titles alone. They care about how the job was actually performed.

Key information includes:

How much you lifted and carried
How long you stood, walked, or sat
Whether you had to bend, stoop, kneel, or climb
Use of hands and arms
Pace and production requirements
Level of stress
Interaction with coworkers or the public
Whether the job required concentration or multitasking

These details directly impact whether SSA believes you can return to that work.

Common Mistakes That Hurt Disability Claims

Many claimants unintentionally damage their case by:

❌ Listing job titles without describing duties
❌ Understating how physically demanding the job was
❌ Saying they “sat most of the day” when the job required standing or walking
❌ Failing to list lifting or carrying requirements
❌ Forgetting about stress, pace, or mental demands
❌ Guessing instead of being accurate
❌ Leaving sections blank

Once SSA records this information, it is very difficult to undo.

Why “Light” or “Sedentary” Jobs Are Especially Dangerous

If SSA classifies one of your past jobs as sedentary or light, it becomes much easier for them to deny your claim.

Even small details — like how often you lifted items, whether you were on your feet, or whether the job required fast pace — can change how SSA categorizes your work.

This is why careful wording is essential.

SSA Uses the DOT and Vocational Experts

Social Security often compares your description to the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) and may rely on a Vocational Expert (VE) at your hearing.

If your Work History Report is vague, SSA may default to how the job is “generally performed” in the national economy — not how you actually did it.

A well-completed report helps prevent this.

How Your Work History Affects Later Steps

Your Work History Report impacts:

Step 4: Can you perform past relevant work?
Step 5: Are there other jobs you could do?
Hearing testimony: Judges and vocational experts rely heavily on this form

A poorly completed form can follow you through every stage of the claim.

Tips for Completing the Work History Report Correctly

✔ Be detailed, not brief
✔ Describe physical demands honestly
✔ Include mental and stress-related demands
✔ Don’t minimize pain or difficulty
✔ Think about the job on your worst days, not your best
✔ Be consistent with your medical records
✔ Ask for help if you’re unsure

Getting guidance early can prevent costly mistakes later.

How a Disability Attorney Helps With Work History

An experienced disability attorney can:

Help you describe your past work accurately
Ensure SSA does not misclassify your jobs
Align your work history with your medical evidence
Prepare you for questions at a hearing
Challenge vocational expert testimony

This is one of the most important ways an attorney adds value early in your case.

Final Thoughts: The Work History Report Is Not “Just Paperwork”

The Social Security Work History Report is one of the most powerful documents in your disability case. It shapes how SSA views your past work and whether they believe you can still perform it.

Taking the time to complete it correctly — and getting help when needed — can significantly improve your chances of approval.

At Crossroads Disability, we help clients nationwide complete their work history reports accurately and strategically so their cases are evaluated fairly from the start.

If you’re applying for benefits or appealing a denial, we’re here to help every step of the way.

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