Individuals applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits need proof of debilitating medical conditions. They also need to have sufficient work history to be eligible for SSDI benefits.
Workers in their twenties or even in their teens could potentially qualify for SSDI benefits due to a sliding scale for credits maintained by the Social Security Administration (SSA). For workers over the age of 31, even regular part-time employment can be enough to ensure that they have adequate credits to qualify.
That being said, applicants who are older may actually have an easier time proving that they technically meet the criteria necessary for SSDI benefits. The SSA has a grid rule that applies when reviewing the applications of older professionals. At what point does advanced age help SSDI applicants increase their chances of success?
Workers over 50 may find the process easier
The SSA technically groups older workers into three distinct subsets. Younger workers between the ages of 18 and 49 do not receive any special consideration. Those who are over the age of 49 may have an easier time qualifying.
The SSA considers those between the ages of 50 and 54 as approaching advanced age. Those who are between 55 and 59 are of advanced age, while those between ages 60 and 64 are approaching retirement age.
The SSA considers the decline of physical capabilities that comes with advanced age, especially when individuals have worked blue-collar careers for decades. The education of the worker can also be a factor in some cases.
Particularly when professionals have physically-demanding jobs rather than sedentary work, the amount of proof required to qualify for SSDI benefits may be lower after reaching the age of 50. It is even lower after 55 and then again after 60.
Despite the unique consideration granted to older applicants, support is often still necessary to increase the chances of prompt approval and ease the strain of navigating the appeals process. Older professionals in need of SSDI benefits might require assistance as they gather documentation and prepare their paperwork, and that’s okay. Working with an attorney can make it easier for older adults struggling to work to apply for SSDI benefits.