Social Security Cuts Down Work History Requirement for Disability Benefits

The Social Security Administration (SSA) reduced the work history that disability claim applicants need to submit from 15 years to five years as part of simplifying administrative processes and enabling more citizens to receive government benefits. The SSA first published the amended rule on April 18. According to a recent press release by the agency, the update will “improve the application process for disability benefits and reduce the time applicants wait for a decision.” Beginning June 22, the agency will review only five years of past work because 15 years of work history was “difficult for individuals to remember and often led to incomplete or inaccurate reporting.” Moreover, the agency will stop considering past work which was undertaken for less than 30 days....