top of page
Search

What is Past Relevant Work?

skantorik0

Updated: May 10, 2024

Past Relevant Work

Once you start the disability process, you will very likely encounter the term “Past Relevant Work” (PRW). Part of what “disabled” means is that you are unable to return to any work you have done in the recent past, or to adjust to other work. It is important to understand what PRW is and how it can affect a disability claim 


Your PRW is basically any work done at the “substantial gainful activity” (SGA) level within the last 15 years that you did long enough to learn how to do. SGA is, essentially, any work that requires you to perform significant activities for significant profit. (Usually, any work you do earning more than $1,550 per month is considered SGA.) So, if you had a job within the last 15 years and you earned a significant amount for that work, that job will likely be considered PRW. If one of your jobs fits this definition, you will have to show that you cannot return to that job in order to qualify for disability. 


This is why the SSA will ask you to fill out long forms about your work history. They need to see what you did, when you worked there, and how much you were paid to determine if it is “relevant”. Once they have that information, then they will know which jobs to look at to make their decision. 


Past Relevant Work is very important in your disability case. It can become complicated based on your work history. Don’t think you can return to your past work? Call us at Melinda Brown Law to see if we may be able to help! 


Comments


REQUEST A CONSULTATION
Free, No Obligation

  • Facebook

201 E Main St Suite 410

Murfreesboro, TN 37130

(615) 257-2277

Thanks for submitting!

Legal Disclaimer
Please consult an attorney for advice about your individual situation. This site and its information are not legal advice, nor is it intended to be. Contacting Melinda Brown Law does not create an attorney-client relationship. Until an attorney-client relationship is established, please withhold from sending any confidential information to us.

Privacy Policy
We will collect the contact information indicated above and the content of the message you sent to us. We use this information to contact you concerning the legal matter you inquired about and to determine if we might be able to represent you in that matter. We do not share this information with any third-parties. Information about whether or not you chose to opt-in or opt-out of receiving SMS text messages, or your consent to receive SMS text messages, will not be shared with any third-parties. 

© 2025 Melinda Brown Law. Powered and secured by Wix

bottom of page