Worn Out Worker Rule
The "worn out worker" rule, a little-known provision of the Social Security regulations, applies to some disability applicants whose employment history consists of many years of unskilled physical labor. The worn out worker rule allows for eligible disability claimants who would otherwise have their disability claim denied to be awarded Social Security benefits. The worn out worker rule is not used often, but remains important for those workers who would otherwise be left without the Social Security disability benefits they deserve. To qualify, the disability applicant must: 1. have what's defined as a "marginal education." In general, the claimant must have a low skill level in academic areas such as reasoning, arithmetic, and language. A claimant who has completed no higher than the 6th grade is usually considered to have a marginal education; 2. have worked 35 years or more of performing only arduous unskilled physical labor positions. This could include s...