If you’ve applied for Social Security Disability benefits and SSA believes you may have engaged in work after your alleged onset date of disability, they will ask you to fill out the Work Activity Report (Form SSA-821). This form helps SSA determine whether your work activity qualifies as Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) and whether it impacts your eligibility for disability benefits. Here’s a step-by-step guide to completing Form SSA-821 effectively and tips for ensuring your work history supports your claim.
What Is Form SSA-821?
Form SSA-821 is used by SSA to gather detailed information about any work activity you’ve engaged in after the onset of your disability. Even if you’ve only worked part-time, performed volunteer work, or engaged in self-employment, SSA needs to know how this work affects your ability to claim disability benefits.
This form is especially important if:
- You’ve worked since your disability began.
- You’ve received payment for services, even if you weren’t employed full-time.
- You’ve tried to return to work through a work trial or vocational rehabilitation program.
How to Fill Out Form SSA-821
- Basic Information: Start by providing your basic identifying information, including your name, Social Security number, and contact details.
- Details of Your Work Activity: The next section asks for detailed information about your work activity, including:
- The dates you worked.
- Your job title or description of the work you performed.
- The type of business or employer you worked for.
- How much you were paid and the hours you worked.
Be specific when describing your work duties. For example, if you were employed part-time as a cashier but had to sit frequently due to your condition, mention this. SSA needs to understand how your disability affected your ability to perform your job tasks.
- Special Work Conditions: If your employer made any accommodations to help you perform your job, such as allowing you to work flexible hours, take extra breaks, or reduce your workload, include this information. These accommodations could support your claim that you were unable to engage in SGA without assistance.
- Reasons for Stopping Work: If you had to stop working because of your disability, explain the reason in detail. For example, if chronic pain or fatigue made it impossible to continue working, describe how these symptoms prevented you from completing your job duties.
- Self-Employment or Volunteer Work: If you engaged in self-employment or volunteer work, SSA will ask about the nature of the work and whether you received any payment or compensation. Make sure to include this information, even if you didn’t earn a traditional wage.
What SSA Is Looking For
SSA uses Form SSA-821 to evaluate whether your work activity qualifies as SGA. The 2024 SGA limit is $1,470 per month, meaning that if you earned more than this amount, SSA may determine that you are not eligible for benefits because you are capable of engaging in substantial work.
However, even if you earned below the SGA limit, SSA may still deny your claim if they believe you can work regularly without significant limitations. This is why it’s important to explain how your disability affects your ability to work consistently.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Failing to mention work accommodations: If your employer made accommodations for your disability, it’s essential to mention this on the form. SSA needs to understand that you could only perform your job duties with special assistance.
- Underreporting or misreporting work activity: Be honest about your work history, even if the activity was minimal or part-time. Failing to report work activity can lead to complications with your claim, and SSA may request additional documentation.
- Not explaining why you stopped working: If you stopped working due to your disability, make sure to provide detailed information about the symptoms that led you to stop. This helps SSA understand that your inability to work was due to medical reasons.
How an Attorney Can Help
Filling out Form SSA-821 can be complex, especially if you’ve engaged in multiple work activities or received accommodations from your employer. An experienced attorney can help ensure that your work history is presented accurately and in a way that supports your disability claim.
At Disability Law Group, our attorneys are skilled in guiding claimants through the Work Activity Report and ensuring all necessary details are provided. If you need help completing Form SSA-821 or have concerns about how your work history may impact your claim, contact Disability Law Group today for expert assistance.
