The Grid Rules – Overview

The “Grid Rules” are a set of medical-vocational guidelines that allow a claimant over 50 years of age to be easily classified as disabled if he/she fits into certain categories regarding education and work history.These guidelines are known as grid rules because they consist of specific requirements that fit into a table or grid format. To view the Grid Rules Tables, please click on the link.

The grid rules were created with the idea that someone over fifty years of age who did not have extensive education and who had limited skills would have a harder time getting an entry level unskilled job.

The medical-vocational guidelines are outlined on the official Social Security website. Here are some common examples to give you an idea of what these guidelines, or Grid Rules, might look like:

Grid 201.14 – Claimant is between 50 to 54 years of age, limited to sedentary work, a high school graduate, and has no transferrable skills from previous jobs. The claimant is classified as DISABLED.

Grid 201.15 – Claimant is between 50 to 54 years of age, a high school graduate. Although limited to sedentary work, the claimant does have transferrable skills gained from other jobs. The claimant would NOT be classified as disabled.

Grid 202.13 – Claimant is between 50 to 54 years of age, limited to light work, a high school graduate, with an unskilled work background. This claimant is NOT classified as disabled.

Grid 202.04 – Claimant is between age of 55 to 59, a high school graduate capable of doing light labor. With an unskilled work background, the claimant was classified as DISABLED.

The grid rules are complex, so do not be discouraged if you do not understand how they apply to you. But if you have a physical disability and are 50 or more years old, you should inquire as to whether the grid rules apply to you.

Even if you are not quite 50 years of old, you may still find they can help you. For example, a judge may rule in your favor in a disability case if you are almost 50, deciding that as soon as you turn 50 you will receive benefits under the grid rules.

You might notice as you look at the grid rules that they are inclined to favor claimants with little education (usually a high school degree or less) and who are unskilled laborers. However, the older you are the more likely you will be covered by the grid rules. For example, even if you have a college education but are 60 years of age or older and have difficulty adjusting to a new job, then you could be covered by the grid rules.

Click here (Grid Rules Case Study #1) to read a case study of a case in which the grid rules applied and our hearing took less than 45 seconds!

Grid Rule Case Study #2 – 61 year old claimant with high school education, no transferrable skills who was limited to sedentary work awarded benefits per grid rule 201.06.

Grid Rule Case Study #3 – 57 year old female with high school education and past work at medium exertional level but no transferrable skills.

*Please note that these guidelines only apply to a people with physical impairments.  They do not apply to people claiming disability based on mental health problems.