Age and Disability

The DDS examiner takes into consideration the vocational implications of growing older.

Greg in Carlsbad, CA, asks “Is it true that the older you are the easier it is to get Social Security Disability?”

When you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, your disability is going to be evaluated by an examiner at Disability Determination Services (DDS). When reviewing your medical records and work history, the DDS examiner is going to determine if you are able to return to work in your current line of work, or if there is any other type of work that you might be able to do given your disability.

The DDS examiner takes into consideration the vocational implications of growing older (typically, it becomes more difficult to transfer work skills and, in general, to find employment). So, if there are 2 individuals with the same disability, a 30-year-old and a 50-year-old, it is possible that the 30-year-old gets denied and the 50-year-old gets approved.

If you are collecting SSDI, once you reach full retirement age, your disability benefits will automatically convert to Social Security retirement benefits (the amount is usually the same).

If you have been denied Disability benefits, don’t give up. Click here to schedule a free consultation with an experienced disability attorney in the San Diego, Los Angeles and Riverside area, serving all of Southern California.