How SSA Grid Rules Can Help Win Your Disability Benefits Case?

If you are over the age of 50, and you are disabled and considering seeking disability benefits from the Social Security Administration, you may have heard of the SSA Grid Rules. If not, familiarizing yourself with the rules and how the SSA uses them to determine eligibility benefits can be quite helpful, as these rules may help you receive approval for your claim for benefits.

Essentially, the grid rules are guidelines that comprise a set of factors that the SSA utilizes to award disability benefits to people over the age of 50. The Grid Rules are the Social Security Administration’s way of acknowledging it is often more difficult for someone over the age of 50 to obtain a job than it would be for a younger individual. As a result, different factors are considered for the approval of benefits.

The Grid Rules utilize the following factors to determine if an individual is disabled:

• Age: Under the Grid Rules, the SSA divides individuals into the following age groups:

• Younger individuals (ages 18 through 49);
  • Individuals approaching advanced (ages 50 to 54);
  • Individuals of advanced age (age 55 and over);
  • Individuals closely approaching retirement age (age 60 and over)
• Level of Education: The SSA acknowledges that it is often more difficult for those with limited education to find jobs for which they qualify. As a result, an applicant’s level of education is important. Typically, claimants are divided into one of the following categories for education:
  • High school graduate or beyond with recent training for entry into skilled work;
  • High school graduate without recent training for entry into skilled work;
  • Limited education (usually considered an 11th-grade education or below and excluding high school graduates);
  • Those unable to read or write – in other words, illiterate and unskilled workers.
• Skill Level: In considering this factor, the SSA typically categorizes an applicant’s past work history as being either:
  • Unskilled: This includes minimally complex work. Generally, this means that an individual can likely learn to do the tasks required for the job in 30 days or less.
  • Semi-skilled: Semi-skilled work is typically more complex and unskilled work and requires workers to use more judgment and obtain slightly more training.
  • Skilled: Skilled work generally includes work that is more complex and often requires higher education

Under the grid rules, an applicant who is determined to be an unskilled worker is usually more likely to be found disabled than those who are semi-skilled or skilled. This is particularly true as an applicant approaches advanced age or retirement age.

• Transferable Skills: As it attempts to determine an individual’s skill level, the SSA will typically consider whether the skills are transferable or relevant to another occupation. Generally, those individuals who do not have transferable skills will be more likely to be approved for benefits.

• Residual Functional Capacity: The grid rules also rely on an individual’s residual functional capacity to determine whether a disability claim should be approved. RFC is an individual’s existing ability to do certain job-related activities regularly. The different categories of RFC include:

• Sedentary Work: In this category an individual typically must be able to lift 10 pounds, walk or stand for two hours out of an eight-hour day, and be able to sit for at least six hours of an eight-hour day.
  • Light Work: In the light work category, an individual must be able to lift up to 20 pounds, walk or stand for six hours out of an eight-hour day, and be able to sit for two hours in an eight-hour day.
  • Medium Work: In this category, an individual must be able to lift up to 50 pounds, stand or walk for six hours out of an eight-hour day, and be able to sit for two hours out of an eight-hour day.
  • Heavy Work: This requires an individual to lift up to 100 pounds, stand or walk for six hours out of an eight-hour day, and sit for at least two hours out of an eight-hour day.
  • Very Heavy Work. An individual must be able to lift over 100 pounds, stand or walk for six hours of an eight-hour day and sit for two hours of an eight-hour day.

Typically, the heavier an individual’s RFC, the more difficult it will be to get a disability claim approved under the rules.

Call The Keener Law Firm Today

At the Keener Law Firm, we understand every aspect of Social Security disability law. We know that the law can be complex and that the last thing you need when you are dealing with a disability is to also have the stress of worrying about legal problems. Instead, let us pursue your claim aggressively and with the expertise you need on your side. We are here for you, and we’re ready to help. Give us a call today. We look forward to speaking with you soon.