UNDERSTANDING "RESIDUAL FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY" OR RFC

Social Security and disability lawyers throw around the term "Residual Functional Capacity" or its abbreviation "RFC." It is the key to a Social Security disability approval, but what is RFC?

I want to define or explain RFC in the most simple terms possible. Here goes:

Residual Functional Capacity is an evaluation of your remaining ability to do things (work related) after taking into account all of the limitations your severe medical conditions cause you.

The amount of work you are still able to do.

The maximum amount and type of work activity you can still do.

In other words, when your illness, accident or impairments are taken into consideration--along with all the symptoms--what can you still do?

The Social Security Administration will probably approve or deny your claim based on one of the following Residual Functional Capacities:

SEDENTARY WORK is the ability to perform a job seated for about 6 hours out of an 8-hr. day and standing/walking no more than about 2 hours per day. Sedentary work requires lifting/carrying up to 10 pounds occasionally. "Occasional" is defined by Social Security as "from very little up to about one-third of an 8 hour day."

LIGHT WORK is the ability to stand and/or walk about 6 hours out of an 8 hour day and sit for up to 2 hours per 8 hour day, with ability to lift/carry up to 20 pounds occasionally.

If your Residual Functional Capacity is found to be either Sedentary or Light, and there are jobs at Sedentary or Light that you are able to do, you will be denied.

If you are able to perform Light work it is assumed that you can also do Sedentary work.

If a decision maker finds that your RFC is below Sedentary (meaning, you cannot perform even Sedentary work) then you are disabled because no work is easier than Sedentary.

Besides RFC, the following factors also play a part in your your disability decision:

• You Age (a major consideration)

• Your education

• Your past work experience

The Forsythe Firm specializes in making sense out of Social Security disability. We fight for our clients to give them the best representation possible in getting disability benefits approved. It's a tough fight in most cases but we are there with you at every step. If you need a free case evaluation--or just advice--call our specialists at (256) 799-0297.