Will the Social Security Administration consider my age when making a decision on my disability claim?
Posted By Brad Clark on Jul 22, 2010 11:36am PDT
The Social Security Administration (SSA) considers your age in combination with several other factors. SSA actually uses a five-step sequential process before making a decision on your disability claim and your age will be considered at the fifth step of the process. SSA will consider: (1) whether you are engaging in substantial gainful activity; (2) whether you have a severe impairment; (3) whether you meet or equal a medical Listing; (4) whether you can perform your past relevant work; and (5) whether you can perform other work that exists in the national economy based on your residual functional capacity, age, education, and past work experience. At the fifth step, SSA considers advancing age to be an increasingly limiting factor in your ability to make an adjustment to other work that exists in the national economy. Yes, SSA will consider your age in making its decision on your claim, but it will not base its decision solely on your age. Please do not hesitate calling Whitley Law Firm with any questions regarding Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits or Supplemental Security Income benefits.