Rule 202.01 — Disabled
- Age
- Advanced age
- Education
- Limited or less
- Previous work experience
- Unskilled or none
- Decision
- Disabled
SSA Medical-Vocational Guidelines
Light Grid Rules — Table 2
Rules 202.01–202.22 · 22 rules · 5 direct Disabled outcomes
Table 2 applies when the person can perform light work. Because light RFC also includes the capacity for sedentary work, the table recognizes a broader range of jobs than Table 1, while age and work history still affect vocational adjustment.
RFC level: Light work
Light work generally means lifting up to 20 pounds occasionally and 10 pounds frequently. A full range of light work usually requires standing or walking for much of the workday.
Table 2 rules
| Rule | Age | Education | Previous work experience | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 202.01 | Advanced age | Limited or less | Unskilled or none | Disabled |
| 202.02 | Advanced age | Limited or less | Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable | Disabled |
| 202.03 | Advanced age | Limited or less | Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable | Not disabled |
| 202.04 | Advanced age | High school graduate or more — does not provide for direct entry into skilled work | Unskilled or none | Disabled |
| 202.05 | Advanced age | High school graduate or more — provides for direct entry into skilled work | Unskilled or none | Not disabled |
| 202.06 | Advanced age | High school graduate or more — does not provide for direct entry into skilled work | Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable | Disabled |
| 202.07 | Advanced age | High school graduate or more — does not provide for direct entry into skilled work | Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable | Not disabled |
| 202.08 | Advanced age | High school graduate or more — provides for direct entry into skilled work | Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable | Not disabled |
| 202.09 | Closely approaching advanced age | Illiterate | Unskilled or none | Disabled |
| 202.10 | Closely approaching advanced age | Limited or marginal, but not illiterate | Unskilled or none | Not disabled |
| 202.11 | Closely approaching advanced age | Limited or less | Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable | Not disabled |
| 202.12 | Closely approaching advanced age | Limited or less | Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable | Not disabled |
| 202.13 | Closely approaching advanced age | High school graduate or more | Unskilled or none | Not disabled |
| 202.14 | Closely approaching advanced age | High school graduate or more | Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable | Not disabled |
| 202.15 | Closely approaching advanced age | High school graduate or more | Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable | Not disabled |
| 202.16 | Younger individual | Illiterate | Unskilled or none | Not disabled |
| 202.17 | Younger individual | Limited or marginal, but not illiterate | Unskilled or none | Not disabled |
| 202.18 | Younger individual | Limited or less | Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable | Not disabled |
| 202.19 | Younger individual | Limited or less | Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable | Not disabled |
| 202.20 | Younger individual | High school graduate or more | Unskilled or none | Not disabled |
| 202.21 | Younger individual | High school graduate or more | Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable | Not disabled |
| 202.22 | Younger individual | High school graduate or more | Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable | Not disabled |
Rule 202.02 — Disabled
- Age
- Advanced age
- Education
- Limited or less
- Previous work experience
- Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable
- Decision
- Disabled
Rule 202.03 — Not disabled
- Age
- Advanced age
- Education
- Limited or less
- Previous work experience
- Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 202.04 — Disabled
- Age
- Advanced age
- Education
- High school graduate or more — does not provide for direct entry into skilled work
- Previous work experience
- Unskilled or none
- Decision
- Disabled
Rule 202.05 — Not disabled
- Age
- Advanced age
- Education
- High school graduate or more — provides for direct entry into skilled work
- Previous work experience
- Unskilled or none
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 202.06 — Disabled
- Age
- Advanced age
- Education
- High school graduate or more — does not provide for direct entry into skilled work
- Previous work experience
- Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable
- Decision
- Disabled
Rule 202.07 — Not disabled
- Age
- Advanced age
- Education
- High school graduate or more — does not provide for direct entry into skilled work
- Previous work experience
- Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 202.08 — Not disabled
- Age
- Advanced age
- Education
- High school graduate or more — provides for direct entry into skilled work
- Previous work experience
- Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 202.09 — Disabled
- Age
- Closely approaching advanced age
- Education
- Illiterate
- Previous work experience
- Unskilled or none
- Decision
- Disabled
Rule 202.10 — Not disabled
- Age
- Closely approaching advanced age
- Education
- Limited or marginal, but not illiterate
- Previous work experience
- Unskilled or none
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 202.11 — Not disabled
- Age
- Closely approaching advanced age
- Education
- Limited or less
- Previous work experience
- Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 202.12 — Not disabled
- Age
- Closely approaching advanced age
- Education
- Limited or less
- Previous work experience
- Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 202.13 — Not disabled
- Age
- Closely approaching advanced age
- Education
- High school graduate or more
- Previous work experience
- Unskilled or none
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 202.14 — Not disabled
- Age
- Closely approaching advanced age
- Education
- High school graduate or more
- Previous work experience
- Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 202.15 — Not disabled
- Age
- Closely approaching advanced age
- Education
- High school graduate or more
- Previous work experience
- Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 202.16 — Not disabled
- Age
- Younger individual
- Education
- Illiterate
- Previous work experience
- Unskilled or none
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 202.17 — Not disabled
- Age
- Younger individual
- Education
- Limited or marginal, but not illiterate
- Previous work experience
- Unskilled or none
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 202.18 — Not disabled
- Age
- Younger individual
- Education
- Limited or less
- Previous work experience
- Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 202.19 — Not disabled
- Age
- Younger individual
- Education
- Limited or less
- Previous work experience
- Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 202.20 — Not disabled
- Age
- Younger individual
- Education
- High school graduate or more
- Previous work experience
- Unskilled or none
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 202.21 — Not disabled
- Age
- Younger individual
- Education
- High school graduate or more
- Previous work experience
- Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 202.22 — Not disabled
- Age
- Younger individual
- Education
- High school graduate or more
- Previous work experience
- Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable
- Decision
- Not disabled
How to read the Light work rules
Four Disabled outcomes are in the advanced-age group (55 and older), where limited education and unskilled work, no work, or nontransferable skills can make adjustment to other work difficult.
Rule 202.09 is the fifth Disabled outcome. It applies to a person closely approaching advanced age (50–54) who is illiterate and has unskilled or no work experience; the table does not make all Disabled light rules 55+.
Transferable skills and education that permits direct entry into skilled work generally point toward Not disabled. For people age 60 or older, SSA requires very little vocational adjustment for a finding that skills transfer to light work.
These rules are considered at Step 5, after SSA assesses your Light work RFC. See the denial FAQ for an overview of appeal deadlines and options.
The age notes sometimes used to summarize these tables can miss exceptions. SSA’s current Table 1 marks 9 rules Disabled, including Rule 201.17 for some people ages 45–49; Table 2 includes Rule 202.09 for ages 50–54; and Table 3 includes Rule 203.10 for advanced age (55+), not only age 60+.
Source: Official SSA Medical-Vocational Guidelines (20 CFR Part 404, Appendix 2).