Persons who are age 50 or over tend to get approved for Social Security disability (SSDI) much easier than younger people. Here's why:
The grid rules often provide a shortcut for a simple, quicker decision for persons age 50 and over. These are also called Medical-Vocational Guidelines.
If you are under age 50, you usually must prove that you aren't able to perform your past work OR any other work that is available in the US economy. This is a very strict burden.
However, when you hit the magic 50, the rules change. Now, you must only prove that you can't perform your "past relevant work," meaning the work you have done during the past 15 years before applying for disability. This is a much easier burden.
At a recent hearing, the vocational expert testified that a 47 year-old claimant could not perform his past work as a welder. However, the expert testified that the claimant could perform such light jobs as document preparer, parking garage attendant or furniture store rental clerk. Under the regulations, if the claimant is under age 50 and can perform ANY other kinds of work, he is not disabled.
If this same person had been age 50 or over, with the same medical conditions, he would have been found disabled under grid rule 201.14. Age can make all the difference.
So...if you are 50 or older, we may be able to use the grid rules to help you get approved at your hearing.
Contact a "50+" Advocate Here - Just Click
The grid rules often provide a shortcut for a simple, quicker decision for persons age 50 and over. These are also called Medical-Vocational Guidelines.
If you are under age 50, you usually must prove that you aren't able to perform your past work OR any other work that is available in the US economy. This is a very strict burden.
However, when you hit the magic 50, the rules change. Now, you must only prove that you can't perform your "past relevant work," meaning the work you have done during the past 15 years before applying for disability. This is a much easier burden.
At a recent hearing, the vocational expert testified that a 47 year-old claimant could not perform his past work as a welder. However, the expert testified that the claimant could perform such light jobs as document preparer, parking garage attendant or furniture store rental clerk. Under the regulations, if the claimant is under age 50 and can perform ANY other kinds of work, he is not disabled.
If this same person had been age 50 or over, with the same medical conditions, he would have been found disabled under grid rule 201.14. Age can make all the difference.
So...if you are 50 or older, we may be able to use the grid rules to help you get approved at your hearing.
Contact a "50+" Advocate Here - Just Click
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