Applying for Disability at Age 55-59: Social Security's Grid Rules

Getting Social Security disability benefits when you're over 55 can be easier than when you're younger, thanks to a special set of rules called the medical-vocational grid rules. The grid rules are guidelines that make it possible for people nearing retirement age to qualify for disability if they can't do their past work.

The medical vocational guidelines for workers 55 and older let the Social Security Administration (SSA) consider factors that can make it difficult for older workers to switch jobs. That includes factors like not having skills that transfer to other work or having limited education.

While most people younger than 50 need to show they can't perform the easiest sit-down jobs before Social Security can find them disabled, people over 50 might get disability even if they can do a sit-down job. And if you're between 55 and 59 and can do a half-standing, half-sitting job, you could still qualify for disability benefits under the SSA grid rules for workers over 55.

Below is an explanation of how the Social Security grid rules for workers age 55 to 59 work, including how your age, exertion level, past work experience, and education level help determine if you qualify as disabled. You'll also find the grids themselves, along with some disability claim examples.

What Are the SSDI Grid Rules for Age 55 to 59?

Social Security categorizes disability applicants between the ages of 55 and 59 as "advanced age." Within the advanced age category, the grid is divided into tables based on exertional levels. Exertional levels describe the most weight you can carry and the longest you can be on your feet during a workday.

Your exertional level is an important part of your residual functional capacity (RFC). Social Security recognizes five exertional levels:

• Sedentary work requires you to lift up to 10 pounds and stand or walk for up to 2 hours total in an 8-hour day.
• Light work requires you to lift up to 20 pounds and stand or walk for 6 hours total.
• Medium work requires you to lift up to 50 pounds and stand or walk for 6 hours total.
• Heavy work requires you to lift up to 100 pounds and stand or walk for 6 hours total.
• Very heavy work requires you to lift more than 100 pounds and stand or walk for 6 hours total.

You won't be able to get disability under the grid rules if you can physically perform heavy or very heavy work. If you can perform medium work, you can only qualify if you have a limited education and don't have any relevant work experience in the past five years (more on this below).

But if you can do light or sedentary work, the SSA will use the grid rules for 55-59 to see if they "direct a finding of disability" based on additional factors, such as your level of education. If the grid directs a finding of disability, you'll qualify for benefits.

How Do I Use the Grid Rules for Over 55?

Below are the grid rules for people between the ages of 55 and 59. (20 C.F.R. part 404, subpart P, appendix 2 §§ 200.00-204.00.) Remember, Social Security won't apply the grid rules unless the agency has found that you can no longer do your prior work.

To use the grids, first find the table for the exertional level in your RFC (sedentary, light, or medium).

Next, find the rows that best describe your education level and previous work experience. Where the grid says "past relevant work," it means any jobs you've done for 30 days or more over the past five years. (SSR 24-2p.) Where the grid mentions "transferable skills," Social Security means that an applicant of advanced age has skills that they could easily use at a new job. The new type of work must be similar to the applicant's prior work (for example, the applicant would use the same tools or work processes that they used in a prior job). (20 CFR § 404.1568(d).)

Then, check the third column to see the decision the SSA will make based on those two factors.

GRID RULES for SEDENTARY WORK AGE 55

GRID RULES for LIGHT WORK AGE 55

GRID RULES for MEDIUM WORK AGE 55

Examples of Using the 55-59 Grid Rules

Here are some examples of when Social Security can approve disability for a person in the advanced age category based on the grids.

• Selma is a 57-year-old woman who applied for disability based on her diabetes, which made it hard for her to stand for longer than one hour during the workday. She had a high school education but hadn't worked for 25 years. The SSA determined that Selma had the RFC to perform sedentary work only. The grids directed a finding of disabled, and Selma's application for benefits was approved.
• Lars is a 56-year-old man who applied for disability because of moderate emphysema. He had a 10th-grade education and had worked his whole life as a commercial fisherman. Social Security found that Lars shouldn't lift more than 20 pounds due to his emphysema and gave him an RFC for light work. Because Lars didn't have any transferable skills from his job as a fisherman, he was approved under the grids.

Here are some examples of when the SSA would find someone over 55 not disabled:

• Owen is a 55-year-old man who filed for disability due to arthritis in both knees. He has a college education, and his past work was as a hotel manager. Social Security determined that Owen had an RFC for sedentary work, but that he had transferable skills, including the ability to manage groups and interact with customers. Given these factors, the grids directed a finding of not disabled.
• Tina is a 58-year-old woman who filed for disability based on hepatitis C. Tina has a GED and some college credits. Social Security determined that Tina's hepatitis C symptoms limited her to medium work. Because of her education level and medium RFC, Tina was denied disability benefits under the grid rules.

What to Do When the Grids Say "Not Disabled"

Even if the grids don't direct a finding of disabled, you can still get benefits if you can show your limitations actually prevent you from doing the kind of work the SSA says you can do. Because the grid rules only address exertional levels, you can qualify for benefits if you have a combination of exertional and non-exertional limitations that prevent you from working.

For example, a non-exertional limitation, like a mental limitation, might keep you from using any transferable skills you've learned. Even a small additional limitation, like not being able to work around noise or dust, can tip the scales toward disability for someone who is 55 to 59.

Another common way to win is to prove you can't even do a sit-down job. For instance, if you have carpal tunnel syndrome but Social Security denied you benefits because you had a sedentary RFC, a college education, and transferable job skills, you could appeal and show that your inability to use your hands and fingers prevents you from doing any sedentary job. If you can't even do sedentary work, you can get disability.

If You're Nearing Age 60

If you're 59, check out the grid rules for those over 60. The older you are, the more favorable the grid rules become. Social Security will sometimes use the grid rules for the next oldest age category if you'd qualify for disability under those rules and have what the agency calls "additional vocational adversities." Generally, you need to be within six months of reaching age 60 to qualify for the grid rules for ages 60 and up. (20 CFR § 404.1563(b).)

The same is true for disability applicants who are 54 (they fall into the "closely approaching retirement age" category). If an applicant is a few months away from turning age 55, a disability judge will sometimes apply the grid rules for 55-59. For more information on this policy and what additional vocational adversities are, read about getting disability when you're almost 50, 55, or 60.

Contact a Disability Attorney for Help If You're Older Than 55

Many applicants in the 55-59 age group have better odds of winning their disability case using the grids. But the nuances of applying the grids can be tricky, particularly for highly skilled applicants or people with complex RFCs. Consider contacting an experienced disability attorney to help you navigate the grid rules and handle communication with Social Security.