Current Version of the SSA-7160

Form SSA-7160 (01-2019) UF
Discontinue Prior Editions
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

Page 1 of 5
Form Approved
OMB No. 0960-0040

EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP QUESTIONNAIRE
FIRM'S NAME

WORKER'S NAME

ADDRESS OF FIRM

WORKER'S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

FIRM'S FEDERAL EMPLOYER'S IDENTIFICATION

DATE WORKER'S SERVICES PERFORMED
FROM

TO

Note - The term "worker" refers to the person who performed the services.
The term "firm" refers to the individual, corporation, partnership, association, or other type of organization for
whom the services were performed.
Check type of firm:
Individual
Partnership
Corporation
Other (specify)
1.

Give nature of firm's business (for example drugstore, home owner, radio manufacturer, farmer, etc.);

2.

State worker's occupation or title and give a complete description of the work done by him/her.

3.

(a) If the work was done under a written agreement or contract, please attach a copy.
(b) If the agreement was not in writing, describe the terms and conditions of the work arrangement.
(c) If the actual working arrangement differed in any way from the agreement explain the differences, why they
occurred and the date or dates of such change.

4.

(a) Was the worker given training in the work by the firm?
If "Yes," how often and what kind?

Yes

No

(b) Was the worker required to follow daily, weekly, etc., routines or schedules
established by the firm? If "Yes," explain the nature of the instructions.

Yes

No

(c) Was the worker given instructions about the way the work was to be done?
If "Yes," explain the nature of the instructions.

Yes

No

(d) Could the firm change the methods used by the worker in doing the work, or
otherwise direct him/her as to how to do the work?
Explain your answer

Yes

No

Form SSA-7160 (01-2019) UF
5.
(a) Did the firm engage the worker:

Full-time

Part-time

Page 2 of 5
Indefinite period

Particular job

Other (please explain)
(b) Did the firm require the worker to work during fixed hours or at certain times?
If "Yes," explain.

Yes

6.

Name the months and number of days worked in each month during this period of employment.

7.

(a) State the kind and value of tools and equipment furnished by: the firm

No

the worker

(b) List any other expense connected with the work that the worker had:

8.

Was it agreed or understood that the worker would perform the services personally?
If "No," explain

9.

(a) Did the worker have helpers?

Yes

No

(b) Were the helpers hired by:

The worker?

The firm?

Yes

No

The worker?

The firm?

The worker?

The firm?

Yes

No

If hired by the workers, was the firm's consent and approval necessary?
Who could discharge the helpers:
(c) Who paid the helpers:
If the worker paid the helpers, did the firm repay him/her?

Yes

No

(d) How much of the work did the helpers do?

10.

Who owned or rented the premises where the work was done?

11.

(a) Check the type of pay worker received:

Salary

Commission

Hourly
Wage

Advance
or draw

Other (please explain)
(b) Was he/she guaranteed a minimum pay?

Yes

No

12.

Was the worker eligible for a pension, bonuses, paid vacations, sick pay, etc?
If "Yes," explain

Yes

No

13.

Did the firm carry workmen's compensation insurance on the worker?

Yes

No

14.

Were social security taxes deducted from amounts paid the workers?
How did the worker report his/her earnings for income tax purposes?

No

Unknown

15.

Wages
16.

Yes

Self-employment income

Unknown

(a) Was the worker permitted to work for others if such work would not interfere with the services for the firm?
If "Yes," answer (b).
Yes
No
(b) describe any work he/she did for others:

Form SSA-7160 (01-2019) UF
17.
(a) Could the firm discharge the worker at any time?

Yes

(b) Could the worker quit at any time?
(c) Would liability be incurred if the worker quit or was
discharged before the job was completed? If "Yes," explain

18.

(a) Did the worker work under:

Page 3 of 5
No

Yes

No

Yes

No

His/her own business name?

The firm's name?

(b) Did the worker advertise or maintain a business listing in the telephone directory?

Yes

No

(c) Did the worker hold himself/herself out to the public as available to do work of this nature?
Of any other nature? If "Yes," explain

Yes

No

(d) Did the worker have a shop or office of his/her own? If "Yes," where?

Yes

No

(e) Was a license or certificate needed for the work? If "Yes," what kind?

Yes

No

19.

Please explain in detail why you believe the worker was an employee of the firm or was an independent
contractor.

20.

Has any other governmental agency ruled on the status of services performed by the worker or another person
performing the same or similar services?
Yes
No

21.

ANSWER NO. 21 ONLY IF WORKER WAS AN AGENT-DRIVER OR COMMISSION-DRIVER
(a) List the products and/or services distributed (for example, bakery products, laundry services):

(b) If the worker distributed more than one product or service, which was considered the principal or main
product?
Explain

22.

The worker?
Customers or routes designated by the firm?
(c) Did the worker serve:
ANSWER NOS. 22 AND 23 ONLY IF THE WORKER WAS A LIFE INSURANCE SALESMAN
Did the worker devote his/her entire or principal working time to the sale of life
Yes
or annuity contracts for the firm?

Both

No

Form SSA-7160 (01-2019) UF
23. (a) Under the terms of the original contact, was it agreed that the worker would work:

Full-time

Page 4 of 5
Part-time

Other (please explain)

24.

(b) Were these terms of the contract ever changed?
If "Yes," give the date and explain the changes

Yes

No

(c) Were the changes agreed upon by both the firm and the worker?
ANSWER NO. 24 ONLY IF THE WORKER WAS A HOME WORKER
(a) Who furnished materials or goods used by the worker?

Yes

No

Worker

Firm

Yes

No

Was the worker furnished a pattern of given instructions to follow in making
the product?
Explain

25.

26.

27.

(b) Was the worker required to return the finished product either to the firm
Yes
No
or to someone designated by the firm?
ANSWER NOS. 25, 26, 27, AND 28 ONLY IF THE WORKER WAS A TRAVELING OR CITY SALESMAN
Yes
No
Did the worker have an exclusive territory?
Did the firm specify when and how often to work the territory?
Yes
No
If "Yes," explain

(a) What percent of his/her total sales for the firm were made to wholesalers, retailers,
contractors, or operators of hotels, restaurants, or other similar establishments?

%

What percent of his/her total working time was spent in making such sales?

%

(b) What percent of his/her working time for the firm was spent in selling to organizations
other than those specified in (a), such as manufacturers, schools, churches?

%

What was the approximate number of hours worked per day for the firm?

28.

Was the worker required to forward the orders to the firm?
REMARKS: (This space may be used for additional explanation)

Hours
Yes

No

I CERTIFY that all copies of contracts and all statements submitted herewith are true, correct, and complete to
the best of my knowledge and belief.
SIGNATURE
TITLE

ADDRESS

DATE

Page 5 of 5

Form SSA-7160 (01-2019) UF

PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT
Collection and Use of Personal Information
Section 205(a) of the Social Security Act, as amended, allows us to collect this information.
Furnishing us this information is voluntary. However, failing to provide all or part of the information
may prevent us from making an accurate decision on the worker’s claim.
We will use the information you provide to determine eligibility for benefits. We may also share
the information for the following purposes, called routine uses:
• To third party contacts where necessary to establish or verify information provided by
representative payees or payee applicants; and
• To employers or former employers for correcting or reconstructing earnings records
and for Social Security tax purposes only.
In addition, we may share this information in accordance with the Privacy Act and other Federal
laws. For example, where authorized, we may use and disclose this information in computer
matching programs, in which our records are compared with other records to establish or verify a
person’ eligibility for Federal benefit programs and for repayment of incorrect or delinquent
debts under these programs.
A list of additional routine uses is available in our Privacy Act System of Records Notice
(SORN) 60-0089, entitled Claims Folders System, as published in the Federal Register (FR) on
April 1, 2003, at 68 FR 15784. Additional information, and a full listing of all our SORNs, is
available on our website at www.ssa.gov/privacy/.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
This information collection meets the requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507, as amended by section 2 of
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. You do not need to answer these questions unless we
display a valid Office of Management and Budget control number. We estimate that it will take about
25 minutes to read the instructions, gather the facts, and answer the questions. SEND OR BRING
THE COMPLETED FORM TO YOUR LOCAL SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE. You can find your
local Social Security office through SSA’s website at www.socialsecurity.gov. Offices are also
listed under U.S. Government agencies in your telephone directory or you may call Social
Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY1-800-325-0778). You may send comments on our time estimate
above to: SSA, 6401 Security Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401. Send only comments relating to
our time estimate to this address, not the completed form.