Proposed Changes to Grid Rules Could Affect How the SSA Determines if You’re Disabled

Being unable to work would put a serious financial strain on a majority of Americans. Luckily, most employees in the United States pay into the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) disability program in order to qualify for benefits in the event they are unable to work; however, getting these benefits can be an extremely complicated process.

One of the reasons for this is how the SSA determines if you’re disabled. The agency uses a set of grid rules that examine factors of an applicant’s condition that can affect their quality of life. If the condition is determined to be detrimental to the applicant’s ability to lead a normal work and private life, they may be approved; however, these rules haven’t been updated for decades despite massive advancements in the fields of treatment, technology, and education during that time.

That’s why lawmakers are considering three separate bills that would reform how the SSA determines if you’re disabled. An article from The Ripon Advance outlines the details of each of the bills that have been sponsored by Senate Finance Committee Chairman, Sen. Orrin Hatch. Hatch states he hopes the changes will create a much more “effective and efficient” process for distributing disability benefits.

At Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin, we’ve seen many disabled workers struggle to get the benefits they deserve. That’s why our Social Security Disability lawyers are optimistic that these laws will benefit those who have fought for so long to get the help that they need.