Can I Get SSDI After 55 if I Miss Too Many Workdays for Medical Care?

Missing work because of medical treatment can be relevant evidence in a Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claim after age 55, particularly if your medical condition causes you to miss work regularly or makes it difficult to maintain full-time employment.

In some instances, at age 55 and up, if you can’t do your past work and are limited to light or sedentary labor, the Social Security Administration (SSA) Medical-Vocational Guidelines, or grid rules, can affect whether the agency finds that you can adjust to other work.

The Pilzer Klein team has more than 50 years of combined experience. If you have concerns about whether you’re able to get SSDI after 55 if you miss too many days of work for medical care, we’re here to help.

Our Greenville Social Security Disability lawyers can learn about your circumstances and offer personalized SSDI guidance and support.

How Excessive Absences Can Support an SSDI Claim

If you want to get Social Security Disability Insurance benefits after 55, the SSA will consider whether your impairment prevents you from performing substantial gainful activity (SGA) on a sustained basis.

Because of this, frequent absences for medically necessary treatment can provide evidence that your impairment interferes with your ability to maintain a regular work schedule. On top of that, a vocational expert may provide evidence about the frequency of absences or other work-related limitations that would be tolerated in competitive employment.

If you file an SSDI claim, employer attendance records, HR write-ups, and notes from supervisors can show that you can’t maintain a regular schedule.

As such, this and similar evidence can support your claim. The Social Security Disability lawyers at Pilzer Klein can help you collect proof for your claim and argue as to why you deserve SSDI benefits.

How Hard Is It to Get Disability After 55?

After age 55, age can become a key factor in an SSDI claim since the SSA considers individuals age 55 and older to be of advanced age when evaluating their ability to adjust to other work.

Typically, if you miss too many days of work for medical care, your employer can terminate your employment. However, in certain cases, the SSA’s Medical-Vocational Guidelines can be important to people aged 55 and older whose residual functional capacity (RFC) limits them to sedentary or light work.

Let the Social Security Disability attorneys at Pilzer Klein review your SSDI case. We can discuss the grid rules for SSDI at age 50 and how these can apply to you if you are 55 or older and miss work time as you receive medical care.

What Is the 55 Rule for SSDI?

The SSA considers people 55 and older to be of “advanced age” when evaluating their ability to adjust to other work. At this age, the SSA gives greater consideration to the difficulty that some individuals can have adapting to new work.

In alignment with the SSA’s grid rules, to determine your eligibility for SSDI benefits at 55 or older, your age can be considered, along with your RFC, education, and past work experience. Sometimes, if you’re 55 or older and are limited to sedentary or light work and lack transferable skills, the SSA can classify you as disabled under the applicable guidelines.

At Pilzer Klein, our attorneys are familiar with the Social Security Disability rules that are in effect after age 55. We can account for these rules and others as we help you pursue SSDI benefits at 55 or older.

How Often Does the SSA Check Your Medical Records?

The frequency with which the SSA will check your medical records depends on your medical condition and your chances of recovery. Below are details about the SSA’s review schedules:

• Improvement expected: The SSA can review your case every six to 18 months.
• Improvement possible: Your case may be reviewed every three years.
• Improvement not expected: A review can be completed every five to seven years.

The SSA uses a Continuing Disability Review to check your medical records, and your first award letter will include information about when your first review will take place.

Pilzer Klein prioritizes your continuing eligibility for SSDI benefits. If you are 55 or older and face a benefits review in the near future, we are ready to guide you through the review process.

Don’t Wait Any Longer to Get SSDI After 55 if You Have Missed Too Many Workdays for Medical Care

If you’re worried that you won’t qualify for SSDI because you’ve missed too many days of work for medical care after 55, remember that the SSA’s grid rules can lead to a finding that you’re disabled. At this point, you can receive SSDI benefits that may serve you well for an extended period.

At Pilzer Klein, we are committed to empowering our clients to secure the SSDI benefits that they deserve. We have helped thousands of clients, including those who have missed many workdays to get medical care after age 55.

Trust our attorneys to assist you with your SSDI benefits claim. We can give you insights into what to do if you want to receive SSDI after 55 if you’ve missed too many workdays for medical care.

We’ll also stay by your side as you go through the SSDI application process. For more information, request a free consultation.