WHY AGE 50 IS THE SWEET SPOT FOR SSDI AWARDS

While it's possible to get disability benefits at any age before full retirement age, more awards are made to persons age 50 or over.

Why?  It's because of the Medical-Vocational Guidelines or "grid rules."  These special allowances work in favor of older claimants.
The grid rules combine several factors to consider whether an individual is able to work.  Those factors are:

• Age (50-54 is Approachng Advanced Age; 55+ is Advanced Age).

• Education. 

• Past Relevant Work

• Residual Functional Capacity:  Are you limited to...
• Medium Work?
• Light Work?
• Sedentary Work?

Here's an example of a grid case.  Consider a claimant with these characteristics:

• Age 55 (Advanced Age)
• High School Education 
• Unskilled past work history at the medium exertion level
• Limited to sedentary work

The grids will assume that this individual cannot perform any past relevant work, has no skills for direct entry into sedentary work, and is not able to work at job available in the national economy.  Therefore, a finding of disabled will be in order.

So, what do individuals who are under 50 need to get Social Security disability?  These claimants generally must have a very severe, incapacitating disability--perhaps one severe enough to meet one of the Listings.  The impairments that will be disabling for individuals age 50 and over may not be disabling for younger persons, who cannot meet the grids.

Talk to someone experienced in Social Security laws to find out how strong your case is.  But, just in general, persons over age 50 always have a better chance of approval.