Whether you’re applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you’re facing a denial or you’re dealing with a Continuing Disability Review (CDR), you’ve likely heard or read the term “residual functional capacity.” That is defined as the “maximum remaining ability to do sustained work activities in an ordinary work setting on a regular and continuing basis.”
That involves determining the most work you can do on a full-time work schedule considering the “limitations and restrictions attributable to medically determinable impairments” (not things like age, weight and previous limitations that aren’t part of the current disabling condition).
The Social Security Administration (SSA) states that the assessment is based on the job(s) a person has done over the past five years and “whether the individual can do past relevant work as they actually performed it.”
Examples of evidence used in the assessment
RFC is first assessed on the initial application for SSDI based on evidence including:
- Medical history
- Current symptoms of the impairment (like pain and limited mobility or dexterity)
- Daily activities reports
- The “effects of treatment, including limitations or restrictions imposed by the mechanics of treatment” (for example, the side effects of treatments like chemotherapy or the need to use a mobility aid)
- Physician and other treatment providers’ (like physical therapists)
- “Evidence from attempts to work” and “work evaluations, if available”
According to the SSA, “Careful consideration must be given to any available information about symptoms because subjective descriptions may indicate more severe limitations or restrictions than can be shown by objective medical evidence alone.” In some cases, a doctor or physical therapist may believe that a patient should be able to do more than they actually can based on their attempts to continue to do their job.
If you need SSDI for financial support while you’re unable to work, it’s crucial to understand the importance of the initial assessment of RSA and later assessments during CDRs. Having experienced legal guidance can help you navigate the process and ensure that you’re receiving these benefits for as long as they’re needed.