If you are disabled and unable to work due to a debilitating disease or injury, you may be wondering if Social Security Disability Insurance benefits are available if you can still perform some types of job duties. The rules state that you must be permanently disabled in order to receive benefits, but it is up to the system to determine if your restrictions are severe enough to qualify you.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is the federal entity that governs the approval and denial of SSD benefits, and sets forth the rules for qualification. To better understand the guidelines and find out if your disability is severe enough to be eligible for regular cash payments, you may want to talk to a seasoned SSD lawyer in your area who has intimate knowledge of the disability requirements. In the meantime, you are encouraged to look over the brief summary below to get an idea of how disabilities are evaluated by the SSA.
What is Residual Functional Capacity?
Your residual functional capacity, or RFC, is a method of comprehensive assessment used by the Administration to determine how a disabled individual’s disease or injury impairs their ability to perform functions required for earning a living. The RFC evaluation is used when a person’s disability is not severe enough to qualify them for benefits under the current list of impairments. With the help of medical professionals, the Administration assesses the disabled person’s capabilities, both mental and physical, to answer the question, “What tasks can you perform and for how long?”
Movement restrictions, sensory deprivation, resistance to change, comprehension, anxiety, and other such activity-related deficits are considered. Factors like balance, concentration, memory, and social interaction are observed and evaluated.
How RFC Affects SSD Benefits
In order to qualify for benefits, the Social Security Administration examines RFC in order to get a clear picture of an individual’s limitations. The SSA representatives who review your case will be looking to see that your RFC restricts your activities and prevents you from performing work-related functions. In order to maximize your chances of receiving benefits, you should familiarize yourself with how RFC is determined and what factors might help or hurt your case when RFC comes into question. Your functional ability carries more weight than your actual medical history, so it is important to fully understand how RFC is used.
If you are ready to speak with a disability attorney in your area, please search our legal directory at your convenience. We’ve taken the time to assemble a list of highly skilled, experienced legal professionals who can deliver the guidance you need for success with your disability claim.