Disability claimants over the age of 50 have an advantage when applying for SSDI or SSI benefits. Not only do Social Security rule change the definition of disability to make it easier to qualify for many over 50 claimants, SSA judges generally give older claimants the benefit of the doubt when they describe their impairments.
The Grid Rules May Apply in Your Case
If you are over the age of 50, with a high school or less education and a manual labor work background, a special set of rules called the grid rules may apply in your case. The grid rules reflect Social Security’s understanding that older, less educated workers with physical limitations will have a much more difficult time finding entry level work than younger job applicants.
If you fit into one of the grid rules you can be found disabled even if you have the capacity to work using the logic that no jobs exist for you as an older worker. You can read more about how the grid rules work on a special web site call GridRules.net.
Older Workers Often Deemed more Credible
Social Security judges generally give more credibility to the testimony of older claimants with long work histories. If you have been a productive worker for 25 years, earning good money, you are not likely to quit working to sit home for 2 years hoping that Social Security will eventually pay you $1,500 or $2,000 per month in disability benefits.
Judges also understand that older workers will have more problems with retraining and that employers typically want younger workers for entry-level positions.
This does not mean that you can win without compelling medical evidence but there is a good chance that your testimony will be given more weight.
If you are over age 50 and you are struggling with medical issues that make you less reliable at work, please reach out to us using the form on this page.