When people can no longer work due to medical challenges, they still have bills to pay. They may require disability benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has very strict standards for disability benefits.
Specifically, working professionals need to have made adequate prior contributions to Social Security. They also need to have a truly debilitating medical condition that their doctor affirms should last for 12 months or longer, unless it is a terminal condition. Typically, the ability to maintain any sort of gainful employment disqualifies an applicant who hopes to obtain Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.
A professional who has enjoyed a six-figure salary previously might end up ineligible for SSDI benefits because they can work a minimum-wage job as a cashier. Some professionals receive more lenient treatment than others. Blue-collar workers, in particular, are subject to a special rule that could help them qualify for benefits when others might not.
What is the worn-out worker rule?
The SSA sometimes considers an individual’s education and work history in scenarios where they develop debilitating medical conditions. Someone who has worked in a blue-collar profession performing arduous physical labor for at least 35 years could be eligible for SSDI benefits despite being able to work a different job.
Those with a limited educational history who have performed decades of manual labor have very likely caused damage to their bodies through their employment. In consideration of the impact blue-collar employment could have on their quality of life, the SSA allows them to qualify.
Even if they might be able to work as a cashier at a grocery store or a fast food restaurant, the SSA may still grant them SSDI benefits. Blue-collar workers facing career-ending medical challenges may need help learning about their options. They may need to gather more evidence than other workers seeking SSDI benefits. Learning about the rules could help those with debilitating medical conditions support themselves and pay their bills when they cannot continue their careers.
SSDI benefits can help blue-collar workers enjoy their retirement after years of performing physical labor. Workers may need help with the application process and any appeals that may be necessary to secure their SSDI benefits.
