Rules for Claimants Between the Age of 55 and 59
An individual between 55 and 59 years of age who applies for Social Security disability benefits is categorized by the Social Security Administration (SSA) as “advanced age.” Whereas many younger individuals may not qualify for disability benefits if they are able to perform sedentary or light work in spite of their impairments, an applicant of advanced age would be found disabled if he or she only has the functional capacity to perform sedentary or light work as long as the applicant does not have past relevant work, skilled or semi-skilled transferable skills, or any recent education or training focused on learning skilled work. For more detailed information, please review Social Security’s grid rules.
What if I have a college education and transferable skills and the SSA claims I can still perform sedentary work?
In a situation like this, in order to be found eligible for Social Security disability benefits, an applicant has to prove via medical evidence that he or she can no longer perform sedentary work due to functional limitations caused by his or her impairments. For instance, a claimant with chronic back pain as a result of degenerative disc disease (DDD) may be able to demonstrate that his or her back pain prevents him or her from sitting in a chair eight hours per day, five days per week, fifty weeks per year. In these instances, a supportive statement from a treating physician is often critical.
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If you are age 55 or over and are no longer able to work full-time, please do not hesitate to contact us for a free evaluation of your disability claim. Feel free to call our office or send us a message via the contact form located in the upper right of this page.
Related guide: Read the comprehensive guide →