Impact of the Change in the Lookback Period for Social Security Disability

What is the Lookback Period?

The lookback period in Social Security Disability cases refers to the timeframe during which the Social Security Administration (SSA) considers your past work history to determine whether you can still do any of your previous jobs or similar work.

Previous Rule: 15-Year Lookback Period

Under the old rule, the SSA looked at your work history from the past 15 years. They would assess whether you could still perform any job you did within that period. If you could do any of those jobs, your disability claim might be denied.

New Rule: 5-Year Lookback Period

Now, the SSA will only consider your work history from the past five years. This shorter period focuses on more recent jobs when determining if you can still work.

Impact of the Change

1. Easier Qualification for Disability Benefits:

• With the shorter 5-year lookback, it’s less likely that the SSA will find a job from your past that you can still do, especially if your most recent work was less demanding or more specialized.

2. Fewer Relevant Jobs:

• Jobs you performed more than five years ago will not be considered, which is particularly beneficial if your older jobs required physical or mental demands that you can no longer meet.

3. Focus on Recent Work:

• The SSA’s decision will be based on jobs you held more recently, which may better reflect your current abilities and limitations.

Why This Matters

For many applicants, this change means that their older, possibly more demanding jobs will not be a factor in their disability determination. This increases the chances of qualifying for benefits, as the SSA is now more focused on whether you can perform your most recent work, which might be easier given your current health.