- Michael Burry
- Jun 09, 2025
The Social Security Administration has different rules for determining disability for individuals aged 50 and older. These rules are designed to take into account the fact that older workers are more likely to have difficulty finding new jobs due to their age and health.
What is Social Security disability?
People who are unable to work because of a medical condition or impairment can obtain Social Security disability benefits. The SSA has two disability benefits programs, such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Each of the two programs has different eligibility requirements and amounts of benefits provided, but both include monthly benefit payments, where the average monthly benefit for disabled workers may vary depending on age and other factors, and access to health care coverage via Medicaid or Medicare. In assessing your eligibility, the SSA will analyze your employment history and medical history and determine the extent of the impact of your condition on your work capability.
Can you qualify for disability benefits based on your age?
No, it’s impossible for you to qualify for Social Security disability benefits on the basis of age alone. For Social Security benefits, the SSA will assess your work history, disability, and ability to work. The SSA specifically evaluates your disability status to determine if you meet the criteria for benefits. Social Security does not provide benefits for partial disability; only total disability is considered.
As you get older, the SSA evaluates your eligibility for disability benefits differently, making it less challenging for those over 50. Generally, the SSA is more lenient on applicants beyond the age of 50, and there are special rules for this age group, including lower thresholds for medical requirements.
SSA Age Categories
In order to determine eligibility for SSDI benefits, the SSA uses specific age milestones, such as ages 50, 55, and 60, to evaluate how disability claims are assessed. Applicants are categorized into the following groups:
- Younger Individual (18-49)
- Closely Approaching Advanced Age (50-54)
- Advanced Age (55-59)
- Approaching Retirement Age (60-67)
When a beneficiary reaches full retirement age, they will receive Social Security retirement benefits.
Social Security 5-step evaluation process
All applicants for the Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income programs are evaluated by the Social Security Administration through a complicated process involving a comprehensive five-step evaluation. The SSA will evaluate the following:
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Financial Eligibility: The SSA checks if the applicant’s work qualifies as substantial gainful activity (SGA). For 2024, the SGA limit is 1,550 and 2,590 monthly for blind applicants. If you are receiving SSI benefits, the SSA will also review your income, living situation, and assets during the evaluation process to determine ongoing eligibility.
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Severe impairment: You have to show with medical documentation that a disability or some form of injury will stop you from working for a minimum of a year in order to qualify.
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Impairment criteria: The SSA has set criteria for medical ineligibility, and those criteria are listed in the SSA Blue Book, which contains a compilation of all qualifying conditions. SSA will look at your condition with reference to the appropriate listing.
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Past relevant work: In the absence of listing an impairment, SSA offers you a non-exhaustive list of work tasks and determines if you can perform your past relevant work, which refers to employment you have done in the last 15 years that meets certain criteria for job performance and learning ability.
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Functioning capacity: A consultative evaluation is going to look at your range of roles and assess your functioning capacity—your ability to perform work-related tasks beyond your medical diagnoses. Most likely, if you can perform the duties of your past job, SSA will reject your claim for disability benefits. Those who apply over the age of fifty will most probably get accepted.
What is Residual functional Capacity?
Residual functional capacity, or RFC, is defined as the ability of an individual to carry out work-related functions while having some form of medical ailment or disability. In your case, the SSA will look at your medical files and determine if you are capable, mentally and physically, of performing some basic tasks over a sustained period of time, such as lifting and carrying, which will establish your RFC.
The SSA will, as part of the process, take into account the claimant’s previous work capabilities. For applicants below 50 years old, the SSA uses the level of educational attainment, such as a high school education, alongside the claimed work history and transferable job skills to assess the level of work activity the applicant can perform.
Does Age Matter With Social Security Disability?
The Social Security Administration considers age while assessing the eligibility of an applicant for disability benefits. As a rule of thumb, the SSA is more supportive of the older worker, especially those who are 50 and above. For instance, most applicants above the age of 50 qualify for benefits even if they can perform light work, including sedentary or light work. Transitioning to an office job or other less physically demanding work can be challenging for an older worker, which is why the rules are more favorable for this group.
Applicants below age 50 need to demonstrate that their disability prevents them from performing any work at all. Applicants above 50 only need to prove they cannot perform work activities for their previous job or alternate employment, even if that alternate employment is considered sedentary work. This is the crucial rule that all applicants, regardless of age, must understand, which is why 50 is regarded as the most significant age milestone.
In fact, the SSA’s disability guidelines outline specific criteria, known as the Medical-Vocational Guidelines or GRID rules, which consider age alongside education, work experience, and the transferability of skills and abilities, including the ability to perform light work or sedentary work.
Is It Easier To Get Disability After 50?
Yes, it is generally easier to get disability after 50. The Social Security Administration considers older workers to be less able to adapt to new jobs and to be more likely to have health problems that prevent them from working. As a result, the SSA has a more lenient standard for disability claims for people over 50.
If you are over 50, the SSA will also consider your ability to adapt to new jobs and your ability to perform the essential functions of a job.
Get Help with Your Social Security Disability Application
If you are considering applying for disability benefits, it is important to find a Social Security disability attorney near you for legal representation. They can help you understand the disability benefits process and can represent you at an appeals hearing if your application is denied.
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