Over 50? How Disability Benefits Are Different For You

The inability to work because of a medical condition can happen to people of any age. The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides benefits to those people in some cases. Age does matter, though, when it comes to getting approved for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Read on and find out how things may be different for those over age 50 when they apply for SSDI benefits.

Making Things Easier

The reason that the SSA uses different rules for those over 50 is due to several factors. One is that these workers may not be able to find other forms of employment at their age. For younger age groups, the SSA may find that the worker cannot perform the duties of their previous job but that they may be able to do other jobs. People in the over 50 age group may not be as good at doing other jobs.

The other major issue is that health conditions tend to affect those in this age group more. Younger claimants might have conditions that improve enough for them to return work again. Not so with those over the age of 50, though, according to the SSA.

Grid Rules

The SSA terms the rules for those over age 50 as grid rules because the differences are set out in a grid pattern. The older the claimant, the more likely they are to be approved for benefits. The grids are divided into the age groups of 50-54, 55-59, and over 60.

The grids are populated by what are known as residual functional capacity (RFC) levels. The RFC evaluation judges how well a person can perform tasks at several levels from sedentary to very heavy.  The RFC is used not only for those over 50 but all claimants. However, the RFC levels apply differently to that older population. Though the RFC calculations can be complex, they look at what level a person is able to perform work given their medical and mental conditions. Naturally, more serious conditions can limit the work claimants can do for all ages. Older applicants tend to suffer from more serious conditions, and they may affect their ability to performs tasks more as well.

Older People Get Denied

Unfortunately, being over age 50 is not a guarantee of an approval. Caseworkers that examine a claimant's medical records and other information to determine benefits can make mistakes and place people in the wrong grid. If you are over 50 and have been denied benefits, it's likely a mistake that can be rectified at the appeal hearing if not before that. Speak to a Social Security disability lawyer for help in getting approved for the benefits you need.