Why does age play in factor in a Social Security Disability case?
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a program designed to provide financial assistance to individuals who are unable to work due to a disability. However, not everyone is eligible for SSDI, and age can play a significant role in determining eligibility.
There are two main programs under the Social Security Administration (SSA) that provide benefits for disabled individuals: SSDI and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSDI is a program for individuals who have worked and paid Social Security taxes, while SSI is a program for individuals with low income and assets. In this blog, we will focus on SSDI and the role of age in the application process.
Age is an important factor when filing for SSDI because it determines how the SSA evaluates your disability claim. The SSA uses a five-step evaluation process to determine eligibility for SSDI, and age is considered at several stages of this process.
First, the SSA will evaluate whether you are currently working. If you are, and your earnings exceed a certain amount, the SSA will generally consider you not disabled. However, if you are over the age of 65, the SSA will not consider your earnings in determining disability.
Second, the SSA will consider the severity of your medical condition. The SSA will look at your medical records to determine the extent of your impairment and how it affects your ability to work. Age is considered at this stage because older individuals may have a harder time adapting to new work environments or retraining for a new job.
Third, the SSA will determine whether your disability meets or equals one of the impairments listed in its “Blue Book.” The Blue Book is a list of medical conditions that the SSA considers to be severe enough to automatically qualify for disability benefits. The Blue Book also takes age into account, as some medical conditions may be more severe for older individuals.
Fourth, the SSA will evaluate your ability to perform your past work. If the SSA determines that you can no longer perform the work you did before your disability, it will move on to the fifth and final step.
Finally, the SSA will evaluate your ability to perform other types of work. This is where age plays a significant role. If you are over the age of 50, the SSA will take into account your age, education, and work experience when determining whether you can adjust to other types of work. The SSA recognizes that older individuals may have a harder time finding new employment or retraining for a new job, and therefore may be more likely to be awarded disability benefits.
In conclusion, age is an important factor when filing for SSDI because it affects how the SSA evaluates your disability claim. The older you are, the more likely you are to be awarded disability benefits, as the SSA recognizes that older individuals may have a harder time adjusting to new work environments or finding new employment. If you are considering filing for SSDI, it is important to understand how age may affect your eligibility and to seek the advice of a qualified disability attorney or advocate.