I've been around the process almost 9 years now, and it just dawned on me, it's not trying to prove how sick you are, how much medicine you take, how many times you've been hospitalized. It's whether or not you have a illness that meets a listing, and is not going anywhere soon, and your medical records support that fact. Is that a safe conclusion?

There are 3 ways to qualify. 1) Meet the rules for a Listed Impairment. 2) Qualify via the Grid Rules 3) Qualify via the 5 Step Process.

Determining eligibility for SSDI/SSI is a complex medical/legal evaluation to determine if a person is capable of working above the SGA level in spite of their disabilities.

The lowest standard to qualify is via the grid rules for those aged 55 and to a slightly lesser extent, those aged 50.

The most complicated is the five step process.

If you take an example of two people attempting to qualify via the Grid Rules, that are both aged 52 AND with the exact same health issues, the same trips to the ER, on the same meds, one might qualify because he always performed labor intensive jobs, while the second applicant is denied because his work experience was more sedentary in nature.

Rayandnay,
You really need to ask your attorney if they are attempting to qualify you via the Grid Rules or the 5 Step Process, since I don't believe you qualified for a Listed Impairment at the time of your Alleged Onset Date. If your attorney is attempting to qualify you via the Grid Rules, you should ask if your Alleged Onset Date was moved to when you turn 55, would you be approved.

I'm in the process of the usual pass my file around, trust me, I've got a million questions, this is my 5th hearing, 2nd appeals council remand, we are going to put forth our best effort, I think the best thing, I've got a new judge. The last one, I was warned, you will not win with this guy, and they were right. Being 59 has to account for something.

This is a pretty quick and simple question and unless you know you're wasting your time researching rules and scenarios that don't apply to your situation at all.

No, your age now does not matter. Your age at the time of your Alleged Onset Date is what matters.