Age, Education, and Work Background are Key Factors Considered By SSA Judges

Prior to any Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits claim hearing, it is important to understand that certain circumstantial factors can positively affect the leniency of the SSA judge hearing your case. These factors include age, education and the length of your work history.

The last element is particularly important. Judges understand that the longer you have been working, the longer you have actually been paying into your personal Social Security account. Thus, there is more of a dollars-and-cents balance against which your claim can be measured.

As far as age is concerned, there is obviously not much you can do to change that. But it is worth knowing that any applicant over the age of 50 tends to be viewed more favorably by SSA judges, as is any individual with a limited amount of education or set of professional work skills. Judges typically equate a lower level of education with the likelihood that applicants may have been restricted to more volatile and physically taxing workplace opportunities.

So in a nutshell, you are probably at an advantage if you are over the age of 50, lack a complete education, and have a solid work background. Of course, if you do not meet these criteria you can also win a disability case, it’s just that you are not at quite the same advantage and may have to work harder to prove the validity of your claim. In any event, hiring an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer can help.