Importance of Age
Social Security makes it very difficult for claimants to receive disability benefits. In order to meet Social Security’s definition of “disabled,” one must have a firm medical or mental health diagnosis and also be able to prove their problem is a long-term problem - meaning it has lasted or is expected to last at least one year or result in death.
Therefore, if you are able to go back into the workforce in some capacity, then you will most likely not be approved for benefits. Even if you’re problem prevents you from doing past work you are used to, you can still be denied if you can go into some other type of work. For example, if you have leg pain that keeps you from being able to stand fore more than 4 hours, then you may not be able to perform the construction job you are used to and have been doing for years. However, say you are still able to sit for up to 8 hours in a day, then you may be able to perform a simple sit-down type of job (a clerical assistant, for example) and SSA will deny your claim.
Occasionally, I meet with hardworking and honest claimants who have worked in one particular field for many years and identified themselves as disabled because they are unable to perform at their job any longer. Social Security looks beyond a claimant’s ability to perform a job they are used to. A claimant has to prove that they are incapable to perform any type of work.
Where Age Comes In
The good news is that Social Security often gives claimants who are 50 and older a break, especially if they have limited skills and limited education. Social Security understands that workers age 50 and older will have a much harder time finding an entry-level, sit-down, simple type of job. There are even special rules in place (”Grid Rules”) that apply to claimants who are older than age 50 who have very limited work skills and who have high school or less education. If you are over 50 and meet the requirements of one of the grid rules, then you can be automatically qualified for benefits.
Claimants who are less than 50 years old are considered to be “younger individuals” and are not entitled to any specific consideration due to age. At age 50 and again at age 55, though, there are special rules that make it easier for people to qualify if they have physical impairments and limited schooling.
I can advise you if these rules, known as “grid rules,” apply to you if you are age 50 or older. In addition, if you have an impairment and if you possess a limited formal education or no work skills, you can actually considered disabled even if there are “sit-down” or “light” jobs available. So, if you are age 50 or over, contact me today to find out if the grids apply to you. For more details on the Grid Rules, please click on the link.