Applying for Disability Benefits at 50 & up in Michigan & Ohio
If you’re over 50 and a health problem stops you from working, not only can Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits offer a financial lifeline, they may be easier to get.
You’ve worked hard your entire life. You shouldn’t have to worry about covering essential bills each month while you wait to reach retirement age.
A knowledgeable Detroit disability lawyer can help you determine if you qualify for benefits and tell you more about how Social Security’s rules regarding age could work in your favor.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) considers numerous factors when evaluating your disability claim. Age is an important one.
That doesn’t mean you’ll win benefits automatically. Successfully applying for disability benefits takes work no matter your age.
But it does mean it’s worth seeing if your health problem qualifies for monthly benefits and medical coverage through early Medicare, which can make a big difference in your life.
The Levine Benjamin Law Firm has been helping people in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana with their disability claims since 1964. We’ve helped more than 100,000 people get back on the road to financial stability.
Read below for more about how to use Social Security’s rules to improve your chances of winning disability benefits over 50.
No attorney fee until you’re approved for disability.
From applying to appealing, we help you every step of the way.
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How Does My Age Affect a Social Security Disability Claim?
A Social Security Disability claim is about whether you can work—in past jobs or any other job. Your age primarily affects whether Social Security thinks you could train and adapt to new kinds of jobs.
Social Security breaks down disability applicants into one of four age groups:
- Younger Individuals: Ages 18–49
- Closely Approaching Advanced Age: Ages 50–54
- Advanced Age: Ages 55–59
- Closely Approaching Retirement Age: Ages 60–64
The higher you go in these brackets, the more lenient the SSA could be in determining whether you could keep working. If you could switch to less strenuous work than you’ve done before, Social Security may think you don’t need disability benefits.
Proving you can’t work any job at all is a big obstacle for younger applicants trying to qualify for disability.
If a younger applicant has an education and transferable job skills, Social Security may assume it’s easier for them to get a new job that isn’t ruled out by their medical conditions.
If you apply between the ages of 50 and 54, however, a claims examiner may understand that making the transition to a new type of job is going to be more difficult.
And changing to a new kind of job can get harder still by age 55 and more difficult again by age 60.
When you do reach full retirement age, Social Security will consider you eligible for retirement benefits and no longer for disability.
While your age is an important facet of your disability claim at 50 or older, it’s not the only thing that matters. But it can make a difference in how the system treats your application for SSDI benefits.
Our Michigan disability attorneys can tell you more about what Social Security looks for in a claim and what other factors could affect your application for benefits.
As you move up in age brackets, your case for Social Security Disability benefits gets stronger.
What Should I Know Applying for Disability After Age 50?
Even if it’s a little easier to win disability benefits after age 50, it’s not guaranteed.
You need to make clear in your disability application how your health problems, your work background and your age combine to rule out working.
You need to use your age as part of your story on why you should be awarded benefits.
You might wonder if it’s worth it to apply. Maybe you’re thinking of trying to get by on savings until you can take retirement benefits early.
You could do that, but taking retirement early will reduce how much you receive each month from Social Security.
If you worked and paid into Social Security all these years, applying for SSDI and using those benefits to bridge the gap could be the better option. These are benefits you have earned that should cover you when you need them.
And when you get SSDI, there’s a retirement-focused benefit you can receive early and without penalty: enrollment in Medicare. The health coverage may be an even more important benefit than monthly disability checks for a lot of people.
If you qualify for SSDI, you can enroll in Medicare before the usual age requirement. You get Medicare access after a waiting period starting from the time Social Security decides you first had an eligible disability.
When you’re treating a chronic condition that’s serious enough to stop you from working, this medical coverage is crucial.
We recommend applying for Social Security Disability at any age if you think you qualify, even if you think you could stretch to early retirement.
Social Security Disability helps you maintain financial independence while keeping your full retirement benefits intact.
How a Michigan Disability Attorney Can Help
We don’t recommend trying to win benefits on your own. You need to meet Social Security’s high standards to get your disability claim approved, and that’s difficult no matter your age.
Some lawyers will tell you to apply on your own and come back when you get denied disability benefits, but our Michigan disability lawyers don’t work that way.
We work with you from the very beginning to build a convincing disability claim.
Let’s go through our process step by step:
Step #1: Seeing if you qualify for benefits.
To qualify for SSDI, you need to show that you’ve earned enough “work credits” by working and paying into Social Security.
If you’re not sure that you’ve worked enough and earned enough credits, we can help you figure that out. If you haven’t worked enough, you may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a need-based program.
Step #2: Gathering evidence to support your claim.
Social Security won’t just believe you when you say that your health prevents you from working.
You’ll need objective evidence, like the results of medical tests, assessments from your doctor and information about the treatments you’ve tried.
It can be tough to gather all of this evidence, especially if you’re seeing multiple specialists and feeling drained from your health issues, but our attorneys can help you get everything and strengthen your claim.
Step #3: Helping you fill out application forms.
Applying for SSDI benefits requires a lot of paperwork. We’ll guide you in filling out SSA forms so you don’t leave out crucial information or make mistakes that could result in delays or denials.
Step #4: Appealing if your initial disability claim gets denied.
Only around 35% to 40% of initial disability claims get approved. If you get denied benefits, our team can help you interpret your denial letter, make your claim stronger, and request an appeal within Social Security’s 60-day deadline.
The disability lawyers of Levine Benjamin will be there for you this whole time, keeping you updated about your claim and answering any questions you have.
We know that this application process can seem like a lot of work, but it’s worth it if you can maintain your independence after a health problem stops you from working at age 50 or older, but before you’re ready to retire.
The disability attorneys of the Levine Benjamin Law Firm help people in Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Flint, Toledo, Elkhart and across the states of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana win the benefits they need to get back on stable ground.
If you’re ready to apply for disability benefits, our team is ready to help. At any age.