HOW YOUR AGE AFFECTS YOUR SSDI CLAIM

Social Security's rules are different for people in different age categories.  I want to talk about how age will affect your disability claim.

Social Security divides claimants into the following age categories:

• YOUNGER INDIVIDUAL (Under age 50)
• CLOSELY APPROACHING ADVANCED AGE (50 - 54)
• ADVANCED AGE (55 or over)

Younger individuals are not going to meet a Medical-Vocational Guideline that finds them disabled based on a combination of their age, impairment, education and past relevant work.  Persons under 50 have the highest burden:  they must prove that they are unable to perform any of their past relevant work, as well as any other work which exists in the national economy.  If a younger person is judged able to perform unskilled, minimum wage work that can be performed at the sedentary (sitting down) exertion level, or any other work, they will be found not disabled.

Persons age 50 through 54, may meet a Medical-vocational guideline, especially if they have limited education, no transferable skills and their past relevant work was at a medium or higher exertion level.

Persons age 55 and over will more likely meet a guideline or "grid rule."  If this claimant is judged unable to perform any of his/her past relevant work, he/she will probably be approved, even if other work is available.  Claimants in this advanced age category will have the relatively lowest burden of proof and thus, the greatest chance of being found disabled.

Age is only one of the things Social Security looks at; however, it is a major factor.