Definition of Past Relevant Work

SSA considers past relevant work as jobs you have done within the last 15 years that:

• Lasted long enough for you to learn how to do them well.
• Were performed at the substantial gainful activity level or higher.
• Reflect your skills, knowledge, and abilities relevant to assessing disability.

Role in Disability Evaluation

In Rhode Island, SSA uses past relevant work to:

• Assess whether you can still perform your previous jobs despite impairments.
• Determine if you can adjust to other work based on your experience.
• Evaluate your residual functional capacity (RFC) to do similar or different tasks.

Types of Work Considered

Past relevant work includes:

• Skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled jobs previously held.
• Positions requiring specific physical or mental demands.
• Any job performed sufficiently long to gain needed experience.

Importance during Disability Hearings

SSA evaluates past relevant work during hearings to:

• Clarify limitations through vocational experts.
• Determine if suitable alternative jobs exist considering your impairments.
• Support decisions on disability eligibility based on work history.

Legal Guidelines and Considerations

SSA follows strict rules for past relevant work including:

• Time limits on relevance of past employment.
• Focus on jobs where you had enough experience to learn duties well.
• Ensuring objective assessment of work demands against your current medical condition.