What Is Residual Functional Capacity (RFC)?

When you apply for Social Security Disability benefits, one of the most important factors in your case is something called your Residual Functional Capacity, or RFC.

Understanding your RFC can help you know how the SSA views your limitations, what evidence you need, and how strong your claim may be.

In this guide, we break down what RFC means, how it’s determined, and why it matters.

What Is Residual Functional Capacity (RFC)?

Residual Functional Capacity is a formal assessment the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses to decide what you are still able to do despite your medical conditions.

In simpler terms:

RFC measures your remaining abilities—not just what you can’t do, but what you can still do—on a full-time, 40-hour-per-week basis.

Your RFC answers questions like:

Can you sit or stand for long periods?
How much weight can you lift or carry?
Can you stay focused and on task?
Can you interact with others?
Can you handle a normal work schedule?

This helps the SSA decide whether you can return to past work or adjust to new work.

Who Determines Your RFC?

Your RFC can come from several sources:

1. Social Security Medical Consultants

These are doctors hired by the SSA.
They review your:

medical records
imaging
lab results
functional assessments
consultative exam reports

They complete an RFC form that becomes part of your file.

2. Your Treating Doctors

Your own medical providers can (and should) complete RFC forms.

Their opinion is often weighted more heavily, especially when supported by long-term treatment records.

3. Consultative Examiners (CEs)

If SSA needs more information, they may send you to a one-time evaluation.
The doctor’s report can influence your RFC.

Types of RFC: Physical vs. Mental

There are two major categories the SSA looks at.

Physical RFC (For Physical Impairments)

A physical RFC addresses your ability to:

Lift, carry, pull, or push
Stand and walk
Sit for extended periods
Use your hands, arms, or feet
Bend, kneel, stoop, crouch
Handle environmental restrictions (heat, cold, fumes, hazards)

The SSA then categorizes you into exertional levels, such as:

Sedentary
Light
Medium
Heavy
Very Heavy

Each level reflects how demanding the work would be.

For example:

Sedentary jobs require mostly sitting and lifting no more than 10 lbs.
Light jobs require standing/walking for 6+ hours per day and lifting up to 20 lbs.

Your RFC level often decides whether jobs exist that you could still do.

Mental RFC (For Psychological or Cognitive Conditions)

A mental RFC looks at limitations involving:

Concentration and focus
Memory
Handling work stress
Interacting with supervisors or coworkers
Following instructions
Staying on task
Adapting to changes in routine

Conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, intellectual disabilities, or cognitive decline can significantly affect your RFC.

The SSA rates these limitations as:

None
Mild
Moderate
Marked
Extreme

The more severe your limitations, the harder it becomes to perform any competitive full-time work.

Why Is Your RFC So Important?

Your RFC is crucial for three main reasons:

1. It determines whether you can return to past work.

If your RFC shows that your impairments prevent you from performing your old job, SSA moves to the next step.

2. It determines whether any jobs exist that you could still do.

SSA uses your RFC, age, education, and work history to see if there are other jobs available in the national economy.

3. It forms the foundation of the judge’s decision at your hearing.

At the hearing level, the vocational expert (VE) uses your RFC to testify how many jobs you could perform—or whether there are no jobs you can do at all.

A strong RFC can make or break your case.

How You Can Strengthen Your RFC

Here are steps you can take to improve how your RFC reflects your true limitations:

✓ See your doctors regularly

Consistent treatment builds a strong medical record.

✓ Be honest and specific about your limitations

Tell your providers exactly what you can and cannot do.

✓ Ask your doctor to complete an RFC form

A detailed opinion from your treating provider is extremely valuable.

✓ Follow prescribed treatment plans

Failure to follow treatment can hurt your credibility.

✓ Document flare-ups, symptoms, and daily struggles

Keep notes or journals if necessary.

Do You Need a Lawyer for an RFC Issue?

RFC is one of the most technical parts of a Social Security Disability case.
A disability attorney helps by:

Making sure your RFC reflects your actual limitations
Getting medical source statements from doctors
Challenging weak or inaccurate RFCs from SSA evaluators
Cross-examining the Vocational Expert at your hearing
Arguing how your RFC eliminates all available jobs

These details can dramatically affect the outcome of your case.

Need Help Understanding Your RFC?

At Crossroads Disability, a division of Crossroads Law Group, LLC, we help clients across the country strengthen their disability claims and fight for the benefits they deserve.

If you want us to review your medical limitations or help you build a strong case:

📞 Call us today
or
📝 Request a free case review on our website.

You don’t have to face Social Security alone — we’ll stand by you at every crossroads.

< Older Post

Newer Post >