First, to be eligible for SSDI, a claimant must have worked (or served) 5 of the past 10 years at a job that paid into Social Security.Veterans over the age of 55 have an advantage when filing a disability claim. In order to determine your eligibility for disability benefits, Social Security uses “GRID” rules. This qualifying system is broken down according to levels of exertion which may be performed in a work environment (sedentary, light, medium, heavy, and very heavy). Amongst these levels are three further categories that contribute to the disability determination: Age, Education, and Previous Work Experience.This is where age becomes highly beneficial if you are over 55 years old. According to the GRID rules, persons who are 55 years or older are considered “Advanced age”. Qualifying for this label greatly increases your chance of approval for SSDI. This is particularly true for veterans who have a medical condition that is strictly physical. Essentially, once over 50, you must simply prove that you cannot perform your previous work. The consideration of age stems in part from the fact that older veterans may face more difficulty transitioning into a new workplace.