Understanding the GRID Rules
If you have a signifcant impairment but not severe enough
to meet or equal an entry on the Listing of Impairments,
the SSA will determine what abilities you have to see if
you can return to your past work. If you cannot, the SSA
will then consider your age, education, and work experience--called
the vocational factors--to determine if you can do any work.
If you cannot, you will be considered disabled.
The SSA has published tables that consider RFC ratings
along with age, education, and work experience. The
tables direct the SSA to find someone ''disable," or
not disabled," depending where the person falls. The
tables are known as medical--vocational guidelines or grid.
Table 1 considers sedentary work RFC's with vocational factors.
Table 2 deals with light work RFC, Table3 with medium work
RFCs. Heavy work RFCs are not linked with medical vocational
rules because they essentially are considered the same as
not severe (sight) impairment that does not produce any
sigifiicant limitations in physical ability thus SSA would
find the individual capable of doing heavy work and not
disabled.
In Table 1 There are nine medica-vocationall rules
that will allow an individual to receive a favorable decision
when vociational factors are combined with sedentary
RFCs
In Table 2 There are five medical-vocational factors
which will result in a favorable decision for claimants
with light RFCs
In Table 3 There are three medical-vocational factors
which will result in a favorable decision for claimants
with medium RFCs
A. Age
Your disability application will be evaluated under one
of the following categories:
Under 50 yrs old (younger individuals)
age 50-54 yrs old (closely approaching advanced age)
age 55-59 yrs old (advanced age)
age 60-64 yrs old (advanced age and also closely approaching
retirement age)
Age is an important vocational factor affecting your ability
to adapt to new work situations and to compete with other
people. The lower your RFC is at a certain age, the greater
chance you will be found disable under a medical-vocational
rule. The older your are, the greater the chance you will
be found disable with a certain RFC. Meaning a 55 year-old
claimant with a sedentary RFC has a better chance of being
allowed than if he had a RFC for light, medium, or heavy
work. And a 55-year-old claimant with a sedentary RFC has
a better chance of being allowed under the rules than a
25-year-old with the same RFC.
1. Sedentary Work and Age
Claimants 55 years of age and older are especially likely
to be found disabled under a medical-voicational rule for
disability when they have RFCs for sedentary work. Table
1shows the only ones of this age who will not be found disabled
are those with past skills that can be transfered to new
jobs or whose education permits them to do skilled work
and be able to do new jobs with little or no adjustment
in their tools, work process, work settings, or industry.
In other words to be 55 and not found disable with a sedentary
RFC a claimants must be able to fit into any job with little
difficulty and perform the work as if they had been doing
it for years. The sames goes for claimants aged 50-54 with
a sedentary. Claimants whom are 50 with a sedentary RFC
will have a harder chance at being granted a medical-vocational
RFC. If your are 45-49 you too can be found disabled with
a sedentary RFC if:
+ you are unskilled and have no skills that can be transferred
to a new job
+ you have no past work that is relevant to your current
ability to work or you can no longer perform your past work,
and
+ you are either illiterate or unable to communicate in
English.
Those between 18 to 44 will not be found disable under SSA's
rules with a sedentary.
2. Less Than Sedentary Work and Age
RFC's for less than sedentary work are not part of the
medical-vocational rules, but if one has such an RFC will
almost always receive and allowance of benefit at any age,
regardless of education, and past work experience.
3. Other Work Levels and Age
If you are age 60-64, you will be found disabled under
the medical-vocational rules of Table1 for sedentary work
and Tab le 2 for light work, unless you have highly marketable
skills. On Table 2 many claimants ages 55-59 are allowed
benefits with RFCs for light work or less.
Few claimants are found disable with an RFC for medium
work, however; claimants 55 or older may be found disabled
if they have a limited education and history of no past
work or of unskilled work.
4. Age Examples
Age 55 (advanced age) is the threshold that separates
allowances and denial of disability benefits.
Medical-Vocational Rules
(Grids)
|
AA
|
advanced age (55-59 years old) |
|
CAAA
|
closely approaching advanced age (50-54
years old) |
|
YI
|
younger individual
(less than 50 years old) |
|
M
|
marginal education
(6th grade or less) |
|
LL
|
Limited or less education
(grades 7-11) |
|
HSG
|
high school graduate or more (high school
graduate, college graduate, or equivalent special training) |
|
US
|
unskilled |
|
SS
|
semiskilled |
|
S
|
skilled |
|
N
|
none |
|
I
|
illerate or unable to communicate in English |
|
Rule
|
Age
|
Education
|
Previous Work Experience
|
Decision
|
|
201.01
|
Advanced
Age (55-59)
|
Limited
or less (grades 7-11)
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Disabled
|
|
201.02
|
Advanced
Age (55-59)
|
Limited
or less (grades 7-11)
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Disabled
|
|
201.03
|
Advanced
Age (55-59)
|
Limited
or less (grades 7-11)
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
201.04
|
Advanced
Age (55-59)
|
High
school graduate or does not provide for direct entry
into skilled work
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Disabled
|
|
201.05
|
Advanced
Age (55-59)
|
High
school graduate or more-provides for direct entry
into skilled work
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Not
disabled
|
|
201.06
|
Advanced
Age (55-59)
|
High
school graduate or more-does not provide for direct
entry into skilled work
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Disabled
|
|
201.07
|
Advanced
Age (55-59)
|
High
school graduate or more-does not provide for direct
entry into skilled work
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
201.08
|
Advanced
Age (55-59)
|
High
school graduate or more-provides for direct entry
into skilled work
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
201.09
|
Closely
approaching advanced age (50-54 yrs old)
|
Limited
or less
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Disabled
|
|
201.10
|
Closely
approaching advanced age (50-54 yrs old)
|
Limited
or less
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Disabled
|
|
201.11
|
Closely
approaching advanced age (50-54 yrs old)
|
Limited
or less
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
201.12
|
Closely
approaching advanced age (50-54 yrs old)
|
High
school graduate or more-does not provide for direct
entry into skilled work
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Disabled
|
|
201.13
|
Closely
approaching advanced age (50-54 yrs old)
|
High
school graduate or more-provides for direct entry
into skilled work
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Not
disabled
|
|
201.14
|
Closely
approaching advanced age (50-54 yrs old)
|
High
school graduate or more-does not provide for direct
entry into skilled work
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Disabled
|
|
201.15
|
Closely
approaching advanced age (50-54 yrs old)
|
High
school graduate or more-does not provide for direct
entry into skilled work
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
201.16
|
Closely
approaching advanced age (50-54 yrs old)
|
High
school graduate or more-provides for direct entry
into skilled work
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
201.17
|
Younger
individual
(45-49 yrs old)
|
Illiterate
or unable to communicate in English
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Disabled
|
|
201.18
|
Younger
individual
(45-49 yrs old)
|
Limited
or less-at least literate and able to communicate
in English
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Not
disabled
|
|
201.19
|
Younger
individual
(45-49 yrs old)
|
Limited
or less
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
201.20
|
Younger
individual
(45-49 yrs old)
|
Limited
or less
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
201.21
|
Younger
individual
(45-49 yrs old)
|
High
school graduate or more
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
201.22
|
Younger
individual
(45-49 yrs old)
|
High
school graduate or more
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
201.23
|
Younger
individual
(18-44 yrs old)
|
Illiterate
or unable to communicate in English
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Not
disabled
|
|
201.24
|
Younger
individual
(18-44 yrs old)
|
Limited
or less-at least literate and able to communicate
in English
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Not
disabled
|
|
201.25
|
Younger
individual
(18-44 yrs old)
|
Limited
or less
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
201.26
|
Younger
individual
(18-44 yrs old)
|
Limited
or less
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
201.27
|
Younger
individual
(18-44 yrs old)
|
High
school graduate or more
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Not
disabled
|
|
201.28
|
Younger
individual
(18-44 yrs old)
|
High
school graduate or more
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
201.29
|
Younger
individual
(18-44 yrs old)
|
High
school graduate or more
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
Rule
|
Age
|
Education
|
Previous Work Experience
|
Decision
|
|
202.01
|
Advanced
Age (55-59)
|
Limited
or less
(grades 7-11)
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Disabled
|
|
202.02
|
Advanced
Age (55-59)
|
Limited
or less (grades 7-11)
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Disabled
|
|
202.03
|
Advanced
Age (55-59)
|
Limited
or less
(grades 7-11)
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
202.04
|
Advanced
Age (55-59)
|
High
school graduate or more-does not provide for
direct entry into skilled work
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Disabled
|
|
202.05
|
Advanced
Age (55-59)
|
High
school graduate or more-provides for direct
entry into skilled work
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Not
disabled
|
|
202.06
|
Advanced
Age (55-59)
|
High
school graduate or more-does not provide for
direct entry into skilled work
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Disabled
|
|
202.07
|
Advanced
Age (55-59)
|
High
school graduate or more-does not provide for
direct entry into skilled work
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
202.08
|
Advanced
Age (55-59)
|
High
school graduate or more-provides for direct
entry into skilled work
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
202.09
|
Closely
approaching advanced age
(50-54 yrs old)
|
Illiterate
or unable to communicate in English
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Disabled
|
|
202.10
|
Closely
approaching advanced age
(50-54 yrs old)
|
Limited
or less-at least literate and able to communicate
in English
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Not
disabled
|
|
202.11
|
Closely
approaching advanced age
(50-54 yrs old)
|
Limited
or less
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
202.12
|
Closely
approaching advanced age
(50-54 yrs old)
|
Limited
or less
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
202.13
|
Closely
approaching advanced age
(50-54 yrs old)
|
High
school graduate or more
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Not
disabled
|
|
202.14
|
Closely
approaching advanced age
(50-54 yrs old)
|
High
school graduate or more
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
202.15
|
Closely
approaching advanced age
(50-54 yrs old)
|
High
school graduate or more
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
202.16
|
Younger
individual
(18-44 yrs old)
|
Illiterate
or unable to communicate in English
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Not
disabled
|
|
202.17
|
Younger
individual
(18-44 yrs old)
|
Limited
or less-at least literate and able to communicate
in English
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Not
disabled
|
|
202.18
|
Younger
individual
(18-44 yrs old)
|
Limited
or less
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
202.19
|
Younger
individual
(18-44 yrs old)
|
Limited
or less
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
202.20
|
Younger
individual
(18-44 yrs old)
|
High
school graduate or more
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Not
disabled
|
|
202.21
|
Younger
individual
(18-44 yrs old)
|
High
school graduate or more
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
202.22
|
Younger
individual
(18-44 yrs old)
|
High
school graduate or more
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
Rule
|
Age
|
Education
|
Previous Work Experience
|
Decision
|
|
203.01
|
Closely
approaching retirement age
|
Marginal
or none
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Disabled
|
|
203.02
|
Closely
approaching retirement age
|
Limited
or less
|
None
|
Disabled
|
|
203.03
|
Closely
approaching retirement age
|
Limited
|
Unskilled
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.04
|
Closely
approaching retirement age
|
Limited
or less
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.05
|
Closely
approaching retirement age
|
Limited
or less
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.06
|
Closely
approaching retirement age
|
High
school graduate or more
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.07
|
Closely
approaching retirement age
|
High
school graduate or more-does not provide for
direct entry into skilled work
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.08
|
Closely
approaching retirement age
|
High
school graduate or more-does not provide for
direct entry into skilled work
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.09
|
Closely
approaching retirement age
|
High
school graduate or more-provides for direct
entry into skilled work
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.10
|
Advanced
Age
|
Limited
or less
|
None
|
Disabled
|
|
203.11
|
Advanced
Age
|
Limited
or less
|
Unskilled
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.12
|
Advanced
Age
|
Limited
or less
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.13
|
Advanced
Age
|
Limited
or less
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.14
|
Advanced
Age
|
High
school graduate or more
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.15
|
Advanced
Age
|
High
school graduate or more-does not provide for
direct entry into skilled work
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.16
|
Advanced
Age
|
High
school graduate or more-does not provide for
direct entry into skilled work
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.17
|
Advanced
Age
|
High
school graduate or more-provides for direct
entry into skilled work
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.18
|
Closely
approaching advanced age
|
Limited
or less
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.19
|
Closely
approaching advanced age
|
Limited
or less
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.20
|
Closely
approaching advanced age
|
Limited
or less
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.21
|
Closely
approaching advanced age
|
High
school graduate or more
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.22
|
Closely
approaching advanced age
|
High
school graduate or more-does not provide for
direct entry into skilled work
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.23
|
Closely
approaching advanced age
|
High
school graduate or more-does not provide for
direct entry into skilled work
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.24
|
Closely
approaching advanced age
|
High
school graduate or more-provides for direct
entry into skilled work
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.25
|
Younger
individual
|
Limited
or less
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.26
|
Younger
individual
|
Limited
or less
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.27
|
Younger
individual
|
Limited
or less
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.28
|
Younger
individual
|
High
school graduate or more
|
Unskilled
or none
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.29
|
Younger
individual
|
High
school graduate or more-does not provide for
direct entry into skilled work
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.30
|
Younger
individual
|
High
school graduate or more-does not provide for
direct entry into skilled work
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
|
203.31
|
Younger
individual
|
High
school graduate or more-provides for direct
entry into skilled work
|
Skilled
or semiskilled-skills not transferable
|
Not
disabled
|
