If you are injured or develop a disability, you may be able to continue working a sedentary job but may not be able to go back to more significant physical work. In that case, you may be wondering if you will be able to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits or if you will need to choose benefits or work individually.
The good news for those who are 50 or older is that the medical-vocational guidelines, also known as GRID rules, could apply to reviews of your SSDI benefits. Generally speaking, this means that even if you can perform sedentary work, you may be able to receive disability benefits because the Social Security Administration recognizes the difficult of adjusting to new work after the age of 50. There is also an understanding that people may have a harder time adjusting to new work at that age if they have significant medical impairments.
More weight is given to your claim the older you get, and the rules change for those who are 50, 55 or 60.
Age defines your ability to do new work
It’s not that people can’t learn to do new work at the age of 50 or older, but the problem is that it may be difficult to find that work and do something new when you’re older and have a significant medical issue. Someone under 50 with similar impairments may not have the same trouble as someone who is 50 or older in terms of finding work, which is why the right to disability benefits is weighed differently.
Getting ready to seek SSDI?
If you’re getting ready to seek Social Security Disability benefits and are 50 or older, it may be helpful to look into the work you may still be able to do while you’re filling out your application. As long as you are not earning too much and you can show that you’re unable to train for a different, potentially better paying job, you should be able to work and maintain your benefits at the same time. This is something to go over with your attorney if you’re thinking about taking a new job or continuing where you are.