Rule 203.01 — Disabled
- Age
- Closely approaching retirement age
- Education
- Marginal or illiterate
- Previous work experience
- Unskilled or none
- Decision
- Disabled
SSA Medical-Vocational Guidelines
Medium Grid Rules — Table 3
Rules 203.01–203.31 · 31 rules · 3 direct Disabled outcomes
Table 3 applies when the person can perform medium work. This RFC includes sedentary and light work and represents a wider range of work capability, so most combinations in the table direct Not disabled.
RFC level: Medium work
Medium work generally means lifting up to 50 pounds occasionally and 25 pounds frequently. The full range includes the capacity for sedentary and light work.
Table 3 rules
| Rule | Age | Education | Previous work experience | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 203.01 | Closely approaching retirement age | Marginal or illiterate | Unskilled or none | Disabled |
| 203.02 | Closely approaching retirement age | Limited or less | None | Disabled |
| 203.03 | Closely approaching retirement age | Limited | Unskilled | Not disabled |
| 203.04 | Closely approaching retirement age | Limited or less | Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable | Not disabled |
| 203.05 | Closely approaching retirement age | Limited or less | Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable | Not disabled |
| 203.06 | Closely approaching retirement age | High school graduate or more | Unskilled or none | Not disabled |
| 203.07 | Closely approaching retirement age | High school graduate or more — does not provide for direct entry into skilled work | Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable | Not disabled |
| 203.08 | Closely approaching retirement age | High school graduate or more — does not provide for direct entry into skilled work | Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable | Not disabled |
| 203.09 | Closely approaching retirement age | High school graduate or more — provides for direct entry into skilled work | Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable | Not disabled |
| 203.10 | Advanced age | Limited or less | None | Disabled |
| 203.11 | Advanced age | Limited or less | Unskilled | Not disabled |
| 203.12 | Advanced age | Limited or less | Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable | Not disabled |
| 203.13 | Advanced age | Limited or less | Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable | Not disabled |
| 203.14 | Advanced age | High school graduate or more | Unskilled or none | Not disabled |
| 203.15 | Advanced age | High school graduate or more — does not provide for direct entry into skilled work | Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable | Not disabled |
| 203.16 | Advanced age | High school graduate or more — does not provide for direct entry into skilled work | Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable | Not disabled |
| 203.17 | Advanced age | High school graduate or more — provides for direct entry into skilled work | Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable | Not disabled |
| 203.18 | Closely approaching advanced age | Limited or less | Unskilled or none | Not disabled |
| 203.19 | Closely approaching advanced age | Limited or less | Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable | Not disabled |
| 203.20 | Closely approaching advanced age | Limited or less | Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable | Not disabled |
| 203.21 | Closely approaching advanced age | High school graduate or more | Unskilled or none | Not disabled |
| 203.22 | Closely approaching advanced age | High school graduate or more — does not provide for direct entry into skilled work | Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable | Not disabled |
| 203.23 | Closely approaching advanced age | High school graduate or more — does not provide for direct entry into skilled work | Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable | Not disabled |
| 203.24 | Closely approaching advanced age | High school graduate or more — provides for direct entry into skilled work | Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable | Not disabled |
| 203.25 | Younger individual | Limited or less | Unskilled or none | Not disabled |
| 203.26 | Younger individual | Limited or less | Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable | Not disabled |
| 203.27 | Younger individual | Limited or less | Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable | Not disabled |
| 203.28 | Younger individual | High school graduate or more | Unskilled or none | Not disabled |
| 203.29 | Younger individual | High school graduate or more — does not provide for direct entry into skilled work | Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable | Not disabled |
| 203.30 | Younger individual | High school graduate or more — does not provide for direct entry into skilled work | Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable | Not disabled |
| 203.31 | Younger individual | High school graduate or more — provides for direct entry into skilled work | Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable | Not disabled |
Rule 203.02 — Disabled
- Age
- Closely approaching retirement age
- Education
- Limited or less
- Previous work experience
- None
- Decision
- Disabled
Rule 203.03 — Not disabled
- Age
- Closely approaching retirement age
- Education
- Limited
- Previous work experience
- Unskilled
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 203.04 — Not disabled
- Age
- Closely approaching retirement age
- Education
- Limited or less
- Previous work experience
- Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 203.05 — Not disabled
- Age
- Closely approaching retirement age
- Education
- Limited or less
- Previous work experience
- Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 203.06 — Not disabled
- Age
- Closely approaching retirement age
- Education
- High school graduate or more
- Previous work experience
- Unskilled or none
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 203.07 — Not disabled
- Age
- Closely approaching retirement 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
- Not disabled
Rule 203.08 — Not disabled
- Age
- Closely approaching retirement 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 203.09 — Not disabled
- Age
- Closely approaching retirement 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 203.10 — Disabled
- Age
- Advanced age
- Education
- Limited or less
- Previous work experience
- None
- Decision
- Disabled
Rule 203.11 — Not disabled
- Age
- Advanced age
- Education
- Limited or less
- Previous work experience
- Unskilled
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 203.12 — Not disabled
- Age
- Advanced age
- Education
- Limited or less
- Previous work experience
- Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 203.13 — Not disabled
- Age
- Advanced age
- Education
- Limited or less
- Previous work experience
- Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 203.14 — Not disabled
- Age
- Advanced age
- Education
- High school graduate or more
- Previous work experience
- Unskilled or none
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 203.15 — 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 not transferable
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 203.16 — 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 203.17 — 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 203.18 — Not disabled
- Age
- Closely approaching advanced age
- Education
- Limited or less
- Previous work experience
- Unskilled or none
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 203.19 — Not disabled
- Age
- Closely approaching advanced age
- Education
- Limited or less
- Previous work experience
- Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 203.20 — Not disabled
- Age
- Closely approaching advanced age
- Education
- Limited or less
- Previous work experience
- Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 203.21 — Not disabled
- Age
- Closely approaching advanced age
- Education
- High school graduate or more
- Previous work experience
- Unskilled or none
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 203.22 — Not disabled
- Age
- Closely approaching 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
- Not disabled
Rule 203.23 — Not disabled
- Age
- Closely approaching 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 203.24 — Not disabled
- Age
- Closely approaching 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 203.25 — Not disabled
- Age
- Younger individual
- Education
- Limited or less
- Previous work experience
- Unskilled or none
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 203.26 — Not disabled
- Age
- Younger individual
- Education
- Limited or less
- Previous work experience
- Skilled or semiskilled — skills not transferable
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 203.27 — Not disabled
- Age
- Younger individual
- Education
- Limited or less
- Previous work experience
- Skilled or semiskilled — skills transferable
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 203.28 — Not disabled
- Age
- Younger individual
- Education
- High school graduate or more
- Previous work experience
- Unskilled or none
- Decision
- Not disabled
Rule 203.29 — Not disabled
- Age
- Younger individual
- 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
- Not disabled
Rule 203.30 — Not disabled
- Age
- Younger individual
- 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 203.31 — Not disabled
- Age
- Younger individual
- 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
How to read the Medium work rules
Rules 203.01 and 203.02 direct Disabled for people closely approaching retirement age (60 and older) with very limited education and unskilled or no work experience, or no work experience.
Rule 203.10 is the third Disabled outcome. It applies at advanced age (55 and older) with limited education or less and no work experience, so the Disabled rules are not limited to age 60+.
The remaining rules generally direct Not disabled because medium RFC includes the capacity for light and sedentary jobs. The table also has a narrow exception for a person with marginal education and at least 35 years of arduous, unskilled physical labor who can no longer perform that work.
These rules are considered at Step 5, after SSA assesses your Medium 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).