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Age can be a factor when it comes to deciding the outcome of a social security disability claim or an SSI disability claim. However, age is not as much of a factor as many individuals might expect. In other words, an individual at age 25 may just as easily be awarded disability benefits as an individual at age 50, provided that the 25 year-old has a condition that will last at least one full year and is severe enough to preclude the ability to work. Age as a factor in determining social security disability and SSI cases really comes out in two separate ways for the most part. The first involves the processing of child SSI disability claims. Age comes into play in these cases because children's claims are not evaluated in the same manner. In fact, the definition of disability that is used by the social security administration is different. Children who file for SSI (or, rather, have their parents file for them) are evaluated on the basis of whether or not they have a severe impairment (mental, physical, or both) that results in "marked and severe functional limitations". Unlike adult disability cases, the ability or inability to work is not an issue. For adult social security disability and SSI cases, age becomes a factor at specific age points. Under the current medical-vocational rules (referred to as "the grid"), it becomes somewhat easier to qualify for disability when an adult claimant turns fifty. And it becomes somewhat easier again to qualify for disability when an adult claimant turns age fifty-five. In the processing of adult disability cases, age can provide some benefit. However, even though this is the case, it should be pointed out that it is not necessarily harder for younger individuals to be approved for disability. As was mentioned earlier, for an individual of any age, an approval or denial of benefits will be based on whether or not the durational disability requirement has been met (a state of disability must exist for at least one year), and whether or not the individual can work, either at one of their former jobs (past work), or at some form of other work. 
Social Security Disability and SSI Disability Information
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