Residual Functional Capacity

What is Residual Functional Capacity?

Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) is a measure of an individual's ability to perform work-related activities despite their medical condition. In the context of Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, the RFC is used to determine an individual's ability to perform work and to evaluate their disability claim.

When an individual applies for SSD benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will assess their residual functional capacity to determine their ability to perform work. The RFC assessment will take into account the individual's medical condition, symptoms, and any limitations that result from their condition. The assessment will also consider the individual's age, education, and work experience.

How is Residual Functional Capacity Used?

The SSA will use the RFC to determine what type of work, if any, the individual is able to perform. For example, if an individual has a physical impairment that limits their ability to lift more than 20 pounds, the SSA will consider this limitation when assessing their RFC. They will also look at other factors such as the individual's ability to stand, sit, walk and use hands, to determine the individual's ability to perform different types of jobs.

The SSA will also consider the individual's ability to perform mental tasks such as, attention, concentration, persistence, and pace. If the individual has a mental impairment that affects their ability to perform these tasks, it will be taken into account when assessing the individual's RFC.

If the SSA finds that the individual's RFC is such that they are unable to perform any work that they have done in the past, or any other work that is available in the national economy, the SSA will approve the individual for benefits.

It's important to note that the RFC is not a one-time assessment. The SSA will consider the individual's medical condition, symptoms, and any limitations that result from their condition, and will re-evaluate the individual's RFC periodically to determine if their ability to perform work has changed.