Can I Qualify for SSD If I’m Over 65?

Social Security Disability (SSD) is designed to help individuals who are unable to work due to a qualifying disability. While there is no official upper age limit for SSD benefits, age can influence the way your application is evaluated.

Eligibility for SSD:

To qualify for SSD, you must meet the following criteria:

• Work Credits: SSD is primarily based on your work history. You need to have worked for a certain number of years and earned enough work credits to be eligible. Generally, you need 40 credits, 20 of which must have been earned in the last 10 years.
• Older Workers: If you are over 65, you may still qualify for SSD if you have sufficient work history. However, if you have not worked enough in recent years, you may not meet the necessary credit requirements.
• Disability Requirement: You must be able to prove that you are unable to work due to a medically determinable disability that is expected to last for at least one year or result in death.
• Over 65 Consideration: If you are over 65, the SSA might be more lenient when determining if your disability is severe enough to prevent you from working, but it will still depend on your ability to demonstrate that you cannot engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA).

What About the “Grid Rules” for Older Adults?

When you’re over 50, the SSA uses a more favorable set of guidelines, called the Medical-Vocational Grid Rules, to evaluate your SSD claim. These rules take your age, education, work experience, and the severity of your condition into account. If you are over 60 or 65, these rules can make it easier to qualify for benefits, as the SSA tends to assume that it is harder for older individuals to adjust to new types of work.

However, the biggest factor is whether you meet the work history requirement, as SSD is generally tied to your past employment. If you don’t have enough work credits, you may not qualify for SSD.

Can I Qualify for SSI If I’m Over 65?

Unlike SSD, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a need-based program designed for low-income individuals, regardless of their work history. If you’re over 65 and meet the income and resource criteria, you may qualify for SSI benefits.

Eligibility for SSI:

If you start earning money from work or receive other income (like child support, unemployment, or other benefits), you must report it to the SSA. Even small amounts of income can affect your SSI payments.

• Age Requirement: While SSI benefits are available to individuals of all ages, those over 65 do not have to meet the work history requirements that apply to SSD. Age can work in your favor for SSI because the program is designed for individuals with limited income and resources.
• Income and Resources Limit: To qualify for SSI, you must have limited income and resources.
• Income: The SSA considers all sources of income, including wages, pensions, Social Security benefits, and any other money you receive. For 2025, SSI benefits are generally available to individuals whose income is below a certain threshold. Your income can be from a variety of sources, but the SSA will reduce your SSI payments based on how much income you have.
• Resources: SSI eligibility also depends on the value of your assets, such as savings, real estate, and other resources. As of 2025, the resource limit for SSI is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple.
• Medical Condition: While SSI doesn’t have a work history requirement, you must still meet the SSA’s definition of disability or be 65 or older with limited financial resources to qualify. If you’re 65 or older, you automatically meet the age requirement, but you still need to meet the financial and medical criteria.

Other Considerations for People Over 65

• Medicare: Once you’re 65, you generally become eligible for Medicare, regardless of whether you receive SSD or SSI benefits. However, if you are on SSD before reaching 65, your Medicare eligibility will start at that time.
• SSI and Medicaid: If you qualify for SSI, you may also be eligible for Medicaid, which provides health insurance for low-income individuals. Medicaid eligibility can be especially important for seniors who have high medical costs due to chronic illnesses or disabilities.