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Blue Collar Workers & SSDI: What You Need to Know

Blue-collar workers often face significant physical demands daily, which can cause injuries or chronic conditions that make it impossible to continue working in a labor-intensive job. Fortunately, the eligibility criteria for Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, are more lenient for certain blue-collar workers and include unique considerations and advantages that might apply to their claims. These rules can make qualifying for disability benefits easier for some blue-collar workers, especially older ones with decades of experience.

What is Social Security Disability Insurance?

Millions of Americans rely on SSDI to cover their living expenses when medical conditions prevent them from working. SSDI provides financial assistance to people with a sufficient work history who have become disabled, regardless of age.

The amount you can receive under SSDI depends on your income before becoming disabled and the amount you paid into the Social Security system while still working. Generally, to qualify for SSDI, you must have worked for at least five of the last ten years before becoming disabled, and have a total of at least ten years of work history.

Why Blue-Collar Workers Face Unique Challenges

Blue-collar workers face unique challenges because they often endure physically demanding work conditions for decades. Such environments create a higher risk of injuries and chronic wear-and-tear conditions such as back injuries and arthritis. Unfortunately, blue-collar workers often have limited transferable skills for sedentary jobs, so if an injury prevents them from performing physical labor, they face a serious problem. The Social Security Administration has a relatively high standard for total disability. Professionals typically only qualify when they are incapable of working any job, not just their previous employment. However, there is an exception to that high standard for blue-collar workers. Because of the challenges blue-collar workers face after an injury, the SSA sometimes qualifies these workers for SSDI benefits when others might not be eligible. Under the “worn-out worker” rule, injured blue-collar workers don’t need to try to find another job to stay afloat. Instead, they can obtain SSDI benefits to help cover their cost-of-living expenses until they reach retirement age.

What Are the Special SSDI Rules for Blue Collar Workers?

Under the SSA’s worn-out worker rule, blue-collar workers who have spent 35 years or longer in a blue-collar profession and have limited education can qualify for SSDI benefits. This rule acknowledges the toll physical labor takes on the human body, but qualifying under it requires more documentation than a traditional SSDI benefits claim. Applicants will need significant proof of their educational record and employment history.

The SSA also has a series of Medical-Vocational Guidelines, or “grid rules,” that allow some claimants who are at least 45 years old to qualify for disability benefits even if they are physically able to perform some work. The grid rules are tables that determine whether you should be found disabled based on factors such as age, education, transferable skills, and residual functional capacity. Under these rules, workers can get disability benefits if their educational background makes it difficult to become retrained for a new, more sedentary job.

Common Conditions That Affect Blue-Collar Workers

Generally, the SSA requires objective medical evidence from an acceptable medical source to establish that you have a medically determinable disorder. The SSA also may require evidence from non-medical sources that describes your disorder’s severity and duration.

If you are applying for benefits under the worn-out worker rule, you may suffer from one or more common qualifying conditions, including the following:

  • Musculoskeletal disorders
  • Arthritis
  • Chronic pain conditions
  • Cardiovascular or respiratory issues from labor-intensive jobs
  • Repetitive strain injuries
  • Mental health issues caused by workplace injuries

How to Strengthen Your SSDI Claim as a Blue-Collar Worker

Detailed medical documentation is crucial for filing any SSDI claim. You also need evidence of your residual functioning capacity, or RFC, which assesses what work activity you can still do despite the limitations caused by your medical condition. The SSA uses this metric to determine whether you are capable of working. When applying for benefits under the worn-out worker rule, you also need to show that you only have a marginal level of education, which generally means sixth-grade level or lower. Additionally, you must establish that your medical condition prevents you from continuing your blue-collar employment.

If you file for SSDI benefits under the worn-out worker rule and receive a denial, you can appeal that decision with the help of a disability advocate or attorney. In some cases, it’s possible that you are eligible for benefits, and there was simply an issue with your documentation. Working with a professional ensures you file everything correctly to give you the best chance of winning your appeal.

How Disability Advice Can Help Blue Collar Workers

Disability Advice is the trusted resource for comprehensive information and guidance on SSDI. We’re dedicated to providing reliable, up-to-date information about who can get SSDI, how to apply, and your legal protections. We can assist you with gathering necessary documentation, filing a claim, appealing a decision, and more.

We understand how difficult it can be for people and families faced with disabilities that affect their ability to work. That’s why our experts are committed to making the SSDI process easier to understand and helping you get the benefits you deserve. Whether you’re just starting to find out if you can get benefits or applying for them, Disability Advice is here to help you every step of the way. Contact us today to get started on your SSDI claim and increase your chances of approval.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Blue-Collar Workers Have Better Odds of SSDI Approval?

Depending on work history and education level, blue-collar workers may have a higher chance of being approved for SSDI benefits. Blue-collar workers who spent more than 35 years working in physical labor and have a sixth-grade education or less may be eligible for benefits under the “worn-out worker” rule.

The Social Security Administration’s “grid rules” allow some claimants to qualify for disability benefits even if they’re physically able to perform some work.

If you worked in a blue-collar field for at least 35 years, you may qualify for SSDI benefits even if you could take a more sedentary job.

On average, it can take about six months to receive a decision when you apply for SSDI benefits. If your application is approved, you must wait five months from the date the SSA finds that your disability began before your benefits start.