Social Security rules encourage younger people to work but also recognize that older individuals can have a harder time getting different jobs when they become disabled. Age is a factor in something called “Medical Vocational Guidelines,” which Social Security uses to decide if someone is disabled.
For people between ages 18 and 49, it is very hard to qualify for disability based only on a physical condition. Your physical condition has to be so severe that you wouldn’t be able to do even a “sedentary” job – or a job where you can sit for eight hours per day.
Even if you’re under age 50, if you feel your conditions make it hard to work full time, give us a call.
Someone who is unable to read and write or to speak English can qualify for disability starting at age 45 if they can now do only sit-down types of jobs – and if their past jobs required a lot of standing.
At age 50, Social Security rules make it easier to qualify for disability. If you are unable to do your past job that required a lot of standing or lifting, and would be limited to sit-down types of jobs, you might qualify for disability starting at age 50.
At age 55, it can be a little easier to qualify for disability. For example, if you are no longer able to lift even 20 pounds occasionally and you can’t do your past job any more, you might qualify for disability.