If a disabling condition has left you unable to work, you have the right to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. However, qualifying for those benefits involves more than just proving your medical condition. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will also look at whether your past work experience gave you skills that could transfer to a different, less physically demanding job.
If the SSA finds that those skills exist, it may conclude that other work is available to you, which can result in a denial of benefits. Whether that applies to you comes down to two things: how recent your work history is, and whether your age provides additional legal protections.
Only recent, relevant work skills are considered
As of June 2024, the SSA looks back only five years, not 15, when reviewing your past work history and skills. Anything outside that window is generally not part of the evaluation.
Moreover, only learned, task-based abilities qualify as transferable skills. This can include skills such as operating specific machinery or managing detailed inventory. Qualities such as dependability or physical strength are personal characteristics and do not meet the legal definition of a skill. Work experience tied closely to a single industry, such as heavy construction or agricultural labor, may also not be transferable to a desk-based work environment.
How your age affects the evaluation
The older you are, the more federal law recognizes that starting over in a new career is not realistic. The Medical-Vocational Guidelines factor in your age, education and work history when the SSA evaluates your claim. For workers 50 and older, these rules can support a finding of “disabled” when the SSA cannot show that your skills carry over to another job.
Your age also raises the bar for what the SSA must prove. At 55 or older, if your condition prevents anything beyond desk-based work, or at 60 or older, if you are limited to light physical activity, the SSA must show that your skills transfer with “very little, if any, vocational adjustment” in a completely different job setting.
Learn more about how this applies to you
Every disability claim involves a unique combination of medical, personal and work history factors. If you are over 50 and concerned about how your work background may affect your claim, or if you have already received a denial, a Social Security disability attorney can help you better understand your rights and options.