Getting Social Security Disability Benefits After Age 60

If you're between 60 and 66, you may have an easy time getting disability benefits while saving your full retirement benefits.

By , J.D. · University of Baltimore School of Law
Updated by Diana Chaikin, Attorney · Seattle University School of Law

The odds of winning a disability claim generally go up for people as they become older, due to special Social Security rules that apply after age 50. These rules, known collectively as "the grid," make it progressively easier to show that you're disabled as you approach retirement age. Survey statistics show disability approval rates by age increasing from 49% for respondents aged 50-54 to 57% for those aged 55-59.

After age 60, approval rates increase even further (according to the survey results, 62% for people 60-65 years old). However, some people choose to retire early at age 62 or 63 instead of applying for disability. Even though early retirement may seem like an easier option, choosing it can reduce the amount of benefits you're entitled to. You can get disability benefits up until full retirement age, which is 67 (as of 2024).

Should You Take Early Retirement or Apply for Disability at Age 62?

Because the disability process can be long and complicated (and carries a stigma for some people), you have the option to take early retirement once you turn 62. However, collecting Social Security retirement early rather than applying for disability has some drawbacks that you should consider before making this decision.

Retirement or Disability: Advantages and Disadvantages

If you take early retirement once you reach the age of 62, your retirement benefit amount will be permanently reduced. The amount your benefit is reduced by depends on the number of months you have until full retirement age. This is called the "reduction factor." Depending on how early you decide to retire, you may only be able to collect 70% of the benefits you would be owed at full retirement age.

On the other hand, if you're awarded Social Security disability benefits (SSDI), your benefit amount is the same as what you'd get if you retired at age 67. This is because SSDI and retirement benefits are based on how much money you paid in Social Security taxes. You'll also get the benefit of a "disability freeze," which disregards any low (or zero) earning years you had while you were disabled for the purpose of calculating your monthly Social Security benefit.

So while you can collect early retirement sooner, you won't get as much money as you would with SSDI. But although it's easier to get disability at age 62, there's no guarantee that you'll win your case, which can take years to decide. You may want to contact an experienced attorney to discuss whether it's better for you to retire or go on disability.

Will My Disability Benefits Change When I Turn 65?

Not at 65, no. If you're receiving SSDI, your benefits do change once you reach full retirement age, but in name only— your disability benefits simply convert to retirement benefits. Your payment amount won't change, and your future retirement benefits aren't reduced even though you were able to collect Social Security early.

Why It's Easier to Get Disability After Age 60 Under the Grid Rules

For workers over 50 who are no longer able to do their past work—particularly those who are 60 and older—Social Security must consult the grid rules to determine disability. The grid rules take into consideration factors such as the applicant's age, residual functional capacity (RFC), education, and work history when deciding whether a disability claim should be approved or denied.

Social Security acknowledges that it's often harder for workers nearing retirement age to learn new skills and transition into new workplaces. That's why claimants over the age of 60 are much more likely to be approved using the grid rules. But if your old job was skilled and the SSA thinks you can use your skills doing a less physically demanding type of job, you won't be approved for disability just because you're 64.

Residual Functional Capacity

Your RFC is the most physical work you can do on a regular and sustained basis. RFCs can be for "sedentary", "light", "medium", or "heavy" work. If you can still do heavy work, you won't get approved under the grid rules regardless of your age. But if you're limited to sedentary or light work, you'll be found disabled if you're over 60, don't have a high school education, and don't have transferable skills.

Education

Social Security divides education levels into five classifications: illiterate (an inability to read or write even simple messages), marginal (defined as finishing 6th grade or less), limited (having completed between the 7th and 11th grade), high school graduate (including obtaining a GED), and direct entry to skilled work (for example, completing a trade apprenticeship).

If you're a high school graduate with recent schooling or training that would allow you to move directly into skilled work, you can't be found disabled under the grids—although you could still be found disabled by meeting a listing or if you have an RFC that eliminates all jobs.

Previous Work Experience

People who have skills from their past work experience that they can use in other jobs ("transferable skills") can't be found disabled using the grid rules. To determine if you have transferable skills, Social Security looks at your work history to see if your jobs were classified as unskilled, semi-skilled, or skilled work.

Skill levels are generally based on how long it takes to learn all the duties of the job. The longer it took you to learn your job—or if your job required specialized education—the higher its skill level will be. Unskilled jobs don't, by definition, give you transferable skills, so it's typically easier for people who did unskilled work to get approved under the grid rules.

People who've worked at semi-skilled or skilled jobs will typically have learned skills they could use elsewhere, which can make it harder to get disability using the grid. But some skilled and semi-skilled jobs are so specialized—such as tailor or plumber—that the SSA won't find that those skills are transferable. And without transferable skills, you'll have a better chance of being found disabled.

Social Security Disability Grid Rules Over Age 60

Here are the specific grid rules for people who are aged 60 and older. Find the grid that describes your RFC (sedentary, light, or medium). Next, find the row that describes your education level and your previous work experience. The final column will show the decision that Social Security will make based on the previous factors.

RFC for SEDENTARY WORK

Education

Previous Work Experience

Decision

11th grade or less

Unskilled work or no past relevant work

Disabled

11th grade or less

Skilled or semiskilled work without transferable skills

Disabled

11th grade or less

Skilled or semiskilled work with transferable skills

Not disabled

High school graduate/GED or more

Unskilled work or no past relevant work

Disabled

High school graduate/GED or more

Skilled or semiskilled work without transferable skills

Disabled

High school graduate/GED or more

Skilled or semiskilled work with transferable skills

Not disabled

Recent education that provides for direct entry into skilled work (at least high school graduate)

Unskilled work or no past relevant work

Not disabled

Recent education that provides for direct entry into skilled work (at least high school graduate)

Skilled or semiskilled work with or without transferable skills

Not disabled

RFC for LIGHT WORK

Education

Previous Work Experience

Decision

11th grade education or less

Unskilled work or no past relevant work

Disabled

11th grade education or less

Skilled or semiskilled work without transferable skills

Disabled

11th grade education or less

Skilled or semiskilled work with transferable skills

Not disabled

High school graduate/GED or more

Unskilled work or no past relevant work

Disabled

High school graduate/GED or more

Skilled or semiskilled work without transferable skills

Disabled

High school graduate/GED or more

Skilled or semiskilled work with transferable skills

Not disabled

Recent education or training for skilled work

Unskilled work or no past relevant work

Not disabled

Recent education or training for skilled work

Skilled or semiskilled work with or without transferable skills

Not disabled

RFC for MEDIUM WORK

Education

Previous Work Experience

Decision

6th grade education or less

Unskilled work or no past relevant work

Disabled

7th through 11th grade education

No past relevant work

Disabled

7th through 11th grade education

Unskilled work

Not disabled

7th through 11th grade education

Skilled or semiskilled work without transferable skills

Not disabled

7th through 11th grade education

Skilled or semiskilled work with transferable skills

Not disabled

High school graduate/GED or more

Unskilled work or no past relevant work

Not disabled

High school graduate/GED or more

Skilled or semiskilled work without transferable skills

Not disabled

High school graduate/GED or more

Skilled or semiskilled work with transferable skills

Not disabled

Recent education or training for skilled work

Skilled or semiskilled work with or without transferable skills

Not disabled



It can be difficult to determine the skill level of your old job and whether any of the skills you learned can transfer to another position. You can get a sense of how your job might be classified by searching the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, a Department of Labor publication, for the definition that best describes your job. Look for the SVP ("specific vocational preparation") number at the bottom of the job description. An SVP of 3 or 4 is usually considered semi-skilled, while an SVP of 5 or higher is skilled work. If the SVP is 1 or 2, the job is very likely unskilled.

In certain limited cases, the "work out worker" rule can be used to qualify for disability. You may get approved under this rule if you're unable to return to your old job, you have a marginal education, and you worked for at least 35 years doing only "arduous, unskilled physical labor" (work that primarily involves strength and endurance and requires little or no training to learn).

Can You Apply for Disability After Age 66?

You can apply for disability benefits right up to your 67th birthday, but it doesn't always make a whole lot of sense to do so. Because SSDI disability converts into "regular" Social Security retirement at 67 at the same benefit amount—and because it often takes more than one year to get an approval on your disability claim—you might find it easier to wait until you turn 67 to draw your retirement benefits.

However, if you have a medical condition on Social Security's Compassionate Allowance List—which allows for expedited approval of claims based on very serious or terminal illnesses—you might want to apply for disability after age 66. Compassionate allowance conditions can be approved in as little as a few weeks.

How to Apply for Social Security Benefits

If you've decided to apply for disability benefits—or you're 62 and want to apply for early retirement—you can start your application in several ways:

  • File online at SSA.gov for SSDI or retirement benefits.
  • Call 800-772-1213 (TTY 800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Go in person to your local Social Security field office.

If your application is approved and you start receiving disability benefits, it's unlikely that you'll undergo a continuing disability review after age 60 unless your medical condition improves significantly. While they do happen on occasion, the SSA schedules disability reviews more infrequently the closer you get to full retirement age.

Updated March 20, 2024

Talk to a Disability Lawyer

Need a lawyer? Start here.

How it Works

  1. Briefly tell us about your case
  2. Provide your contact information
  3. Choose attorneys to contact you
Boost Your Chance of Being Approved

Get the Compensation You Deserve

Our experts have helped thousands like you get cash benefits.

How It Works

  1. Briefly tell us about your case
  2. Provide your contact information
  3. Choose attorneys to contact you