If you are in your 20’s, in your 30’s, or in your 40’s, it’s going to be more difficult to win social security disability benefits (SSDI) than for an older person – this is due to the SSA regulations or “grids,” which are a series of tables that SSA uses to determine whether or not you are disabled depending on your age, residual functional capacity (RFC), and work history.
This post presumes that you do not meet a listing, per the SSA rules, as described In This Post about meeting a medical listing.
Am I Disabled Under the “Grids”
The “grids” are a series of tables the SSA uses to determine if a claimant is disabled, assuming the claimant doesn’t meet a listing, and they differ based on age. The factors the SSA considers when using the grids are the claimant’s age, education level, skill level of past work, and his or her residual functional capacity or RFC. For a person who is in their 20’s, 30’s or 40’s, the grids are generally unhelpful because they almost always direct a finding of “not disabled.” It is more difficult, according to the grids, to be disabled at those ages.
For most individuals who are 18-49, the grids will direct a finding of “not disabled.” The SSA decides what level of work you can still do, despite your condition (your Residual Functional Capacity, or RFC) by looking at your exertional limitations; that is, limitations that affect your ability to do strength-related work activities such as the ability to: lift, carry, push, pull, stand, walk, or, sit.
SSA can also look at your non-exertional impairments are those that impact your ability to do non-strength-related physical activities or mental activities, such as using your fingers, bending, stooping, following directions, or getting along with others. If you have a non-exertional impairment that relates to your mental function, the SSA will prepare a mental RFC.
The SSA is required to consider how the combined effects of your non-exertional impairments impact your ability to do work activities. Frequently, a claimant has the ability to perform the physical requirements of a job but is still unable to perform necessary tasks such as following directions, interacting with others, using hands and fingers, or bending and stooping. Severe limitations in these areas can result in an approval regardless of the claimant’s RFC.
Less than Sedentary RFC
If you can’t do sedentary work (a job that requires sitting down most of the day, eight hours a day, five days a week), the SSA is likely to consider you disabled regardless of your age. If you have a condition or disability that requires that you change positions between sitting and standing frequently, prevents you from stooping, requires frequent hospitalization or being absent from work, or has a mental or non-exertional component like an inability to follow directions or complete simple tasks on time – then you can be approved for SSDI benefits regardless of your age.
Borderline Age
If you are a few months away from turning 50 and would be approved for benefits based on using the age category of 50-54, you can request that the SSA use the older age grid. The SSA will decide whether to do this on a case-by-case basis. For more information, see our article on getting disability when you’re almost 50, you should fill out our Free Evaluation form and speak to an attorney at Qualify LLC.
Combination of Impairments
If you have more than one medical condition that limits you, the SSA must consider the combined effect of them when preparing your RFC. If you have at least one severe impairment (one that has more than a minimal affect on your ability to work), the SSA must consider how any non-severe impairments you have further limit your ability to work. The combined impact of severe and non-severe impairments can push your RFC down a level or at least prevent you from doing a full range of work in your RFC. For more information, see our articles on using a combination of impairments and combining severe and non-severe impairments to win your disability claim.