Can I Get SSDI After 55 if Pain Keeps Me From Finishing a Shift?

Yes, if you are experiencing pain that keeps you from finishing a shift at work, you may be able to get SSDI after 55. However, you will still have to go through the claims process with the Social Security Administration.

With your application for SSDI after the age of 55, you’ll need to provide proof of pain and its role in your inability to work a full shift. This can include gathering medical evidence, talking with medical professionals if you haven’t already, and, in some cases, gathering evidence from work.

Pilzer Klein focuses on Social Security Disability cases and can help you understand how your symptoms may affect your claim. Reach out to our firm today to speak with a South Carolina Social Security disability lawyer about your specific case for free.

How is Pain Looked at With SSDI Claims?

It should be reassuring to hear that the Social Security Administration considers pain a real limitation and issue when trying to maintain a job. While not all medical evidence may prove that, medical records can still help; you’ll also have to back these up with additional evidence like personal statements about the pain that you are experiencing.

If you’re unsure, hesitant, or confused about any of these steps in the eligibility process, whether your condition qualifies or what evidence to use, that’s where legal representation can help you build your case.

Pilzer Klein can help you understand what the process entails, help you gather evidence, and present it in a way that is meant to help you.

What Conditions Can Cause Pain That Prevents Someone From Finishing a Shift?

There are all kinds of medical conditions and diagnoses that can cause pain that makes it difficult to complete a full shift at all kinds of job types. A few common examples include:

• Autoimmune disorders: Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis  
• Mental health disorders: Bipolar disorder, PTSD, depression, anxiety.
• Nerve or bone damage: Diabetes, herniated discs, past injuries where you had broken bones (for example, your hip or legs).
• Headache-related disorders: Chronic migraines and frequent tension headaches.

And these are just a few conditions that many people struggle with, which can cause chronic pain and reduce their ability to work a full-time job. The good news is that consulting with a Social Security disability lawyer about your specific condition can help you build a case that is unique to your pain, condition, and situation.

What Kinds of Medical Records Can I Use as Evidence?

A few examples of medical records that can work as proof of disability documentation for an SSDI claim include:

• Personal statements.
• Doctors’ notes describing your symptoms.
• Notes from a physical therapist.
• Details and notes from a certified mental health counselor.
• Records of your doctor visits.
• Prescription information.
• Physical therapy notes, medication records, and doctor visits may all provide useful information.

Pilzer Klein can help you gather medical evidence and can seek medical opinion evidence when it is available. So you don’t have to figure out this process alone.

Does the Pain Have to Be Constant to Qualify for SSDI?

No, as pain that comes and goes can still be disabling; it doesn’t have to be constant. The important question is whether your symptoms are serious enough and frequent enough to prevent you from maintaining regular work.

For example, you may have several manageable days followed by a severe pain flare that requires you to rest or miss work. If this pattern happens often enough, it may make reliable employment difficult.

Long-term medical records established over weeks, months, or years can be especially useful because they may show how things have progressed over time; however, that may not be an option for everyone. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t still pursue a claim.

Why Does Age 55 or Older Matter?

The Social Security Administration understands the unique challenges those over 55 have to face, and there are established rules that give special consideration to those who are 55 and older. When you are in this age range, Social Security won’t necessarily expect you to learn a new job or move into a different type of work.

These considerations can be helpful if you are someone who isn’t able to continue working because of pain you may be in. If you are someone who has spent decades doing physical work, you may have fewer realistic options when chronic pain prevents you from standing, walking, lifting, or staying on task.

It’s important to keep in mind that while there may be some advantages to being 55 and older with a Social Security benefits application, your age does not guarantee approval. However, it is one factor that the Social Security Administration does really consider when reviewing eligibility for an application.

What Mistakes Can Hurt a Pain-Based Claim?

One common mistake that may hurt your claim is assuming that pain is too subjective to support an SSDI claim, especially if it’s hard to diagnose or test for. Your symptoms should be taken seriously, but they also need to be supported by evidence. But if you don’t go for a claim, then you lose even the opportunity for real needed relief that you may be entitled to.

Another problem is failing to tell your doctor about how your pain is impacting your job; in fact, it may be the last thing you think of when seeing a doctor. But it’s important to ensure that your doctors and other healthcare providers get a clear picture of how your pain is impacting your work life.

Another mistake people make is not tracking when they experience pain and including the details of how it impacted their work. So, definitely start creating a recorded journal of some sort with all the details of your symptoms, including how severe, how long, and how your job was impacted in each instance.

Talk to Pilzer Klein About Your Pain-Related SSDI Claim

If you’re someone who has dealt with pain for an extended time, you already know it can impact your personal life, work life, and your overall well-being. However, one thing you may be able to get help with is work-life balance.

Pilzer Klein has more than 50 years of combined experience focused on Social Security Disability matters. The firm can review your medical evidence, work history, and symptoms to help you understand your options.

Contact Pilzer Klein for a free case review if chronic pain is making regular work impossible.