Friday, April 21, 2017

What are my chances of getting approved if I am under 50 years old?

What are my chances of getting approved 
if I am under 50 years old?
By Nicholas Wearne, Associate Attorney

As you age the level of disability that you must prove relaxes.  In other words as you get older getting Social Security Benefits gets easier.  The catch is this relaxation of the rules does not start till you are 50 years old.  

While there are certain exceptions, if you are under 50 years of age you generally must prove that you are not even able to do sedentary (sit down) work.  You have to prove that there are no jobs in the national economy that you could do.   We generally prove this by sending a form for your doctor to fill out.  If you cannot sit more than 4 hours a day, it suggests you cannot do a sit down job.  If you are going to have to miss work more than 4 days a month due to health problems, it suggests you cannot do a sit down job.  If you are going to be off task more than 25% of the time due to pain/symptoms, then it suggests that you cannot do a sit down job.

Proving you cannot do a sit down job is difficult.  You have to have a doctor who supports you and a judge who believes both you and the doctor.  While it may be difficult for people 50- to apply, I would always recommend applying for social security disability if you have the requisite support of your doctor. If you don’t have the requisite support I would still apply but then focus on getting that support from your doctor. 


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