disability over 50 | grid rules SSDI

As you enter your 50s, you may face new health challenges that make working difficult or impossible. If a severe medical condition prevents you from earning a living, you might consider applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.

While the SSDI application process is never easy, there is some good news for older applicants. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has special grid rules that relax specific eligibility criteria for applicants over 50. By taking your age, education level, transferable skills, and ability to do sedentary or light work into account, these rules can make it easier for you to qualify for disability over 50.

At Phillip M. Hendry Attorney at Law, we understand how hard it can be to apply for SSDI when you have increasing health issues in your later working years. Louisiana disability lawyer Phillip Hendry discusses how the grid rules apply to your unique situation and how to pursue the benefits you deserve.

Understanding the SSDI Grid Rules

The SSA's grid rules, also known as medical-vocational guidelines, are a series of tables that disability examiners use to decide whether an applicant qualifies for benefits. The rules consider four key factors:

  • Applicant's age. The grid rules are divided into several age categories: younger individuals (under age 50), closely approaching advanced age (50-54), and advanced age (55 and older). The rules become progressively more relaxed as an applicant's age increases.
  • Education level. This factor examines how much formal schooling an applicant has completed. Generally, having a higher level of education makes the SSA more likely to believe you can transition to a new type of work despite your disability.
  • Skill level of past work. The SSA classifies past jobs as unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled based on the complexity of the tasks and the amount of training required. If you have work experience that provided you with skills that could transfer to a new job, the SSA may argue you don't qualify for benefits.
  • Exertional capacity. This factor considers the physical demands of the work an applicant can still do. Capacity is divided into several categories based on the amount of lifting, carrying, standing, and walking required.

How the SSDI Grid Rules Work

The grid rules come into play during the last stage of the SSA's five-step evaluation process for determining disability. By the time the grids are consulted, you must have already proven that:

  1. You are not engaging in substantial gainful activity (SGA).
  2. You have a severe, medically determinable physical or mental impairment.
  3. Your condition meets the criteria of an impairment listed in the SSA's Blue Book or is medically equivalent to a listing. If you meet the criteria of a Blue Book listing, then the SSA will not move on to steps four and five. However, if you do not meet the Blue Book criteria exactly, the SSA will consider the next two steps.
  4. You cannot perform your past work.
  5. Since you've established you can't return to your previous job, the fifth and final step requires the SSA to decide whether you can do any other type of work that exists in significant numbers.

It’s in the fifth step that the grid rules become relevant. The SSA first determines your match for each of the four factors: age, education, previous work experience, and residual functional capacity (RFC). Your RFC is a detailed assessment completed by a medical professional regarding the physical and mental limitations caused by your condition.

The grid rules will then direct a finding of "disabled" or "not disabled" based on where you fall for each factor. Meeting the criteria of a grid rule that directs a finding of "disabled" means you qualify for benefits.

Why Grid Rules Matter for SSDI Applicants Over 50

While the SSDI grid rules are complicated, the key takeaway for people with disabilities over 50 is that they are generally more favorable at older ages. This reflects the SSA's acknowledgment that switching careers or learning new skills becomes more difficult as we age.

Some examples of how the grid rules benefit older applicants include:

  • An applicant aged 50-54 who is limited to sedentary work will be found disabled more easily than a younger applicant with the same limitations.
  • An applicant aged 55 or older limited to sedentary work and without transferable job skills will be found disabled at this step, regardless of their education level.
  • An applicant aged 55 or older limited to light work will be found disabled with a lower education level and no transferable job skills compared to younger applicants.

How a Louisiana Disability Lawyer Can Help

While the grid rules can work in your favor when applying for disability over 50, the application process is still incredibly complex. Simple mistakes can lead to denial of your claim and may cause you to miss out on the benefits you need and deserve.

At every stage, from filing your initial application to handling an appeal if needed, an experienced Louisiana disability lawyer can make all the difference. The team at Phillip M. Hendry Attorney at Law is here to help you successfully navigate the SSDI process so you can focus on taking care of your health.

Do You Want to Speak to a Skilled Louisiana SSDI Attorney?

At Phillip M. Hendry Law, we understand how Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claims are evaluated under the Blue Book criteria. Our firm will work with you through every step of the application and appeal process to draft a persuasive argument for why you should be awarded SSDI benefits.

Complete our online contact form or call (318) 553-5900 to schedule a consultation with our experienced Social Security disability attorney. We serve clients across Louisiana, East Texas, and Southwest Arkansas. For your convenience, we offer video conferencing options that let you seek assistance from the comfort of your own home.