SSDI Education Categories: Illiterate to College-Educated
TL;DR: The SSA categorizes education as: illiterate, marginal (6th grade or less), limited (7th-11th grade), high school and above. Lower education = better grid rule outcomes because the SSA assumes you have fewer transferable skills. A college degree or specialized training can work against you because the SSA argues you can do more types of work. Education level interacts with age and RFC to determine Step 5 outcomes.
Education Categories
| Category | Definition | Grid Rule Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Illiterate | Cannot read or write in English | Most favorable |
| Marginal | 6th grade or less | Very favorable |
| Limited | 7th through 11th grade | Favorable |
| High school and above | 12th grade, GED, or higher | Less favorable |
The SSA looks at formal education, vocational training, and how recently you used your education. A college degree from 30 years ago in an unrelated field may carry less weight than a recent vocational certificate.
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