WHAT ARE "GRID RULES?"

"Grid rules" is the short name for a section of 20 CFR, Part 404, Subpart P--which directs Social Security how to consider age, education, residual functional capacity and past work experience--in deciding whether a claimant qualifies for a benefit.

First, individuals are divided into the following age categories:

1. Younger Individual (under age 50)

2. Approaching Advanced Age (ages 50-54), and

3. Advanced Age (55 and over)

Next, the individual's past relevant work is classified into exertion categories:

1. Sedentary

2. Light

3. Medium

4. Heavy, or

5. Very Heavy

The claimant's "Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) is determined. This is a make-it or break-it step. Claimants who are considered disabled by the grids will fall into the sedentary or light category. The maximum educational level of the claimant, along with the skill level at which past work was performed are figured into the formula.

The grid rules can often help a claimant who is age 50 or above, and who are restricted to either sedentary or light exertion work.

Proving the level of restriction here is KEY TO WINNING. Social Security may argue that you can perform medium work; however, your medical record may indicate symptoms which restrict you to light or sedentary work. Your attorney/representative will have the skill and experience to get your RFC considered correctly.

WHAT IF THE GRID RULES DO NOT FIND YOU DISABLED?

Not all cases will "grid." In this unfortunate circumstance, the claimant has the hardest case to win. In this situation, the representative must use medical evidence to prove that the claimant cannot perform ANY job in the United States which exists in significant numbers. This is the highest burden of proof and the hardest case to win. Claimants under age 50 often find themselves in this predicament. When the judge finds that these "younger individuals" are able to perform any unskilled light or sedentary job, the case loses.

My advice is: Hire an attorney or experienced non-attorney advocate for your hearing. He or she can give you a good idea of the roadblocks that may lie ahead, and may be able to solve them prior to your hearing. You will not usually be able to solve them yourself at the hearing because the solutions involve understanding and using Social Security rules and regulations that you have not studied or had opportunity to familiarize yourself with.