There are several factors the Social Security Administration (SSA) considers in determining eligibility for either Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, and age is a large factor.
To help disability examiners make decisions, Social Security has established a set of vocational guidelines known as “the grid.”
This “grid,” takes factors other than medical information into account. Other factors include a claimant’s age, skills, education and their functional capacity. To determine functional capacity Social Security has established four physical categories to help evaluate physical limitations to work. These four categories include sedentary (work that requires a lot of sitting), light work (lifting no more than 10 pounds frequently and 20 pounds occasionally), medium work (ability to lift 25 pounds frequently and 50 pounds occasionally) and heavy work (frequently lifting more than 50 pounds).
In addition to these residual functional capacity categories, age is also considered and categorized. Individuals who are 18 to 44 are considered “young,” those who are 45-49 are considered “younger,” individuals who are 50-54 are considered to be closely approaching advanced age, those who are 55-59 are considered to be advanced age and those 60-65 are considered to be closely approaching retirement age.
The age groups, combined with the residual functional capacity play a large part in whether a Social Security disability case is favorable.
Those who are over age 50, who have been limited to sedentary work or less and who don’t have skills that transfer to other types of work, have a better change of being found disabled. For people age 55 and older, if you are limited to light work or less than a full range of medium work, you face a better chance of being approved. For more information about how age impacts a Social Security disability case click here.
