The Social Security Administration (SSA) has made a significant change in how they evaluate disability claims. Starting June 24, 2024, the SSA will only consider work performed in the past five years as “past relevant work” when assessing your Columbia Missouri Social Security Disability evaluations.
Previously, they looked at your work history over the past 15 years. This update is crucial for disability claimants and these changes make it even more important for those over 50 to get help from a Columbia Missouri disability lawyer early in the process to get this work history correct. Here’s why it matters.
Understanding the Change
The reduction from a 15-year to a 5-year look-back period means that the Social Security Administration will only evaluate the work you’ve done in the most recent five years before your disability claim. This adjustment aligns with the modern job market, recognizing that job roles and skills have evolved significantly over the past decade and a half.
Benefits for Claimants
This change is highly beneficial for Columbia Missouri Social Security Disability evaluations for several reasons:
Reduced Skill Argument
With a shorter evaluation period, it becomes more challenging for the Social Security Administration to argue that you have the skills or capacity to perform your past work. This is especially important if the nature of your previous jobs has changed or become obsolete.
Reflects Job Market Realities
Jobs in nearly every sector have changed dramatically in the last 15 years. The skills and requirements for many positions have evolved, making some past experiences less relevant to today’s job market.
Updated Occupational Data
The Dictionary of Occupational Titles (D.O.T.), a resource used by vocational experts during hearings, has not been updated for 40 years. This outdated resource does not accurately describe most current jobs. By focusing on the last five years, the SSA’s evaluations will be more in line with current job descriptions and requirements.
Impact on Grid Rules
For claimants over the age of 50 with physical limitations, this change has a significant impact, particularly concerning the Grid Rules. The Grid Rules are guidelines used to determine disability based on factors such as age, education, and work experience.
Under the new rule, it’s less likely that a vocational expert will identify transferable skills from your past work. Without these transferable skills, you are more likely to be found disabled under the Grid Rules.
Why This Change Makes Sense
The job market is constantly evolving. Many roles that existed 15 years ago have transformed significantly or no longer exist. This makes a 15-year look-back period outdated and less relevant for determining current work capacity. The new five-year period is a more accurate reflection of an individual’s recent work history and skills, aligning better with today’s economic realities.
The SSA’s decision to reduce the look-back period for evaluating past relevant work from 15 years to 5 years is a significant and positive change for Columbia Missouri Social Security Disability evaluations. It acknowledges the rapid changes in the job market and ensures that disability evaluations are more relevant and fair.
This update will make it easier for many claimants to prove their disability, particularly for those over 50 who are more likely to benefit from the Grid Rules. These changes make it even more important for those over 50 to get help from a Columbia Missouri disability lawyer early in the process.
If you’re considering applying for Social Security Disability benefits, understanding this change and its implications can be crucial in your claim process.
If you need help fighting for your Social Security disability rights, The Krebs Law firm offers free consultations. We can review your situation, help you determine the best course of action, and if you have a solid case, fight alongside you. You can reach our office at 573-886-8976 or toll free at 800-345-0535.
You could try to get your benefits on your own, but the odds of successfully combatting a denial are higher with the help of a Social Security disability lawyer in Columbia Missouri.
The Krebs Law Firm provides free consultations for Social Security Disability claimants, and we don’t get paid unless we win you the compensation you deserve. Set up your appointment with us without delay. You can reach our office locally at (573) 886-8976 or toll free at 800-345-0535.
A Social Security disability lawyer in Columbia Missouri can help make the process of getting the full amount you’re owed much easier. The Krebs Law Firm offers free consultations, and all it takes is giving us a call today.
Whether you’re making an initial Social Security Disability claim or striving to make an appeal, The Krebs Law Firm knows the ins and outs of the application process and offers free consultations to potential clients. You have nothing to lose by contacting us and everything to gain.
If you seek the help of a Social Security Disability attorney in Columbia Missouri with your claim, The Krebs Law Firm has years of experience in helping our clients receive the full amount of Social Security Disability benefits that they rightly deserve in as timely a manner as possible.
Call us for a free consultation at 573-886-8976 or toll free at 800-345-0535.