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Residual Functional Capacity and Social Security Disability Benefits 

 March 3, 2008

By  Brian

When a person applies for social security disability insurance benefits (SSDI), the Social Security Administration (SSA) claims examiner will look at many different aspects of the claim to determine if the applicant (or you!) is (are) disabled according to their standards.

One of those aspects is called Residual Functional Capacity, or RFC. The purpose of the RFC assessment is to rate the ‘leftover capacity to work’ that you have after considering your mental and/or physical disability.

RFC is like looking at a person’s work life over the past 15 years and laying the pieces of it out on a table. The claims examiner will then start picking the pieces out from that history and compare them with the illnesses and disabilities identified from the application, medical records and other documentation.

From the pieces left on the table…work experience, age, education and the categories that fit the social security model of determining if a person is able to work, the examiner will make a match to decide if you are capable at working.

It does not really matter WHAT you did in the past, just if you are able to do what fits into the social security definitions of light, moderate or heavy work.

Depending on your disability and other information, you may still be considered able to work – having a residual capacity to function in some other way in some other line of work for which you could be paid. It is important to your case to be very thorough when completing your forms, as you will be looked at based on all limitations. This includes external, (ability to lift, push, pull, carry, etc.); postural (stand, stoop, crawl, etc.); manipulative (use of hands); environmental (cold, heat, noise, light, etc.); and many others. 

In fact, you can see the actual form, found here, if you would like!

Applying for social security benefits can be overwhelming but there is help! In fact, if you have been looking for help, your search is over! I have spent years compiling information that will help you win your case.

Proving that your residual functional capacity is less than the social security standards is a good indication that you can win your claim for benefits. The FREE Social Security Disability Mini Course that I have prepared will give you the knowledge to help construct your RFC.

Subscribe now and get step-by-step directions on how to blast through the Social Security brick wall and win your disability income, don’t miss out, click here to subscribe now!  

Thank you!

Brian

Brian


My name is Brian Therrien, and I'm a professional researcher. So when a number of my friends went through unexpected downturns in their life and required disability assistance, I left no stone unturned to try and help them.

At first, I was concerned with how to qualify for disability, ... but as I learned more about the system, I realized that people also really needed help with getting approved, maximizing their benefits, and most importantly, supplementing their income without losing their benefits when they were ready to transition back to the work force.

That's why when you subscribe to my FREE disability newsletter you'll get concrete help with ALL the issues you'll encounter in the disability system

Brian Therrien

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