In order to determine whether you can perform your occupation (or any other work in the economy), the disability claims handler who is deciding your long term disability claim or Social Security Disability claim needs to assess your residual functional capacity (RFC). This is accomplished by having a doctor perform a residual functional capacity assessment and complete an RFC form. This form is also known as an Attending Physician Statement (APS) or a Medical Source Statement (MSS). We will use these terms interchangeably throughout the rest of this article.
What Is a Residual Functional Capacity Assessment?
A residual functional capacity assessment is an evaluation of your impairment(s) and any related symptoms, such as pain, that may cause physical and mental limitations affecting what you can do in a work setting. Your RFC is the most you can still do despite your limitations.
Why RFC Forms Are Better Than Your Records
Many claimants think, “Well, if my medical evidence is strong, why should I need to get an RFC form completed?”
Your records very rarely specify opinions or conclusions regarding your ability to work or not. The claims examiners at DDS and disability insurance companies are not doctors, so they cannot easily translate medical findings into specific work-related impairments. Submitting completed RFC forms:
- Makes the claims handler’s job easier;
- Allows a claimant to present a professional interpretation of the medical evidence, as opposed to simply presenting the evidence by itself;
- Is far superior to a short statement or letter from a doctor on behalf of a claimant (such letters rarely, if ever, help to win a case); and
- Allows the physician to specifically comment on a claimant’s limitations with respect to exertional ability, postural limitations, strength, range of motion, mobility, etc.
This is why it is important for a physician to “bridge the gap” between your medical diagnoses and your work-related impairments with an RFC form. Every disability applicant should submit a completed RFC form unless they absolutely cannot obtain one. If you see multiple doctors, you should try to obtain a statement from each doctor.
What Form Does My Doctor Need to Fill Out for Disability?
You can download a generic mental RFC or physical RFC form for free from our website. However, keep in mind that the same forms are used for every claimant, regardless of that individual’s specific impairments. A custom form makes it easier for your doctor to identify physical or mental limitations that only apply to specific medical conditions.
Since each medical condition results in specific impairments, we have created custom forms for a multitude of medical impairments. We have physical RFC forms for neck, back, heart, lung, shoulder, knee, hip, foot, fibromyalgia, and migraine headaches. This list is not complete; we literally have dozens of forms, including less common medical conditions like dysautonomia and Lyme disease. We also have mental RFC forms for conditions like bipolar disorder and PTSD.
Who Can Fill Out an RFC Form?
A doctor who submits a residual functional capacity form should be a treating physician. A treating physician is qualified to perform an evaluation as to the claimant’s medical condition and how the condition affects the claimant because the doctor has a history with the claimant.
What Should the RFC Form Say?
Medical opinions only carry weight if they are specific enough to indicate the patient’s specific limitations and explain why the physician believes that his or her patient is disabled and unable to work. For these reasons, an RFC form should contain the following elements:
- It should identify the claimant’s diagnosed condition(s);
- It should indicate the date of the diagnosis;
- It should indicate the prognosis (or future outlook) for the condition(s); and
- Most importantly, it should identify all the various ways in which the claimant is functionally limited (which evidences how and why the claimant would be unable to sustain full-time work activities).
Regarding item number 4 above: it is usually most helpful for a doctor to complete a check-off style form that allows the doctor to address the claimant’s level of impairment. For physical impairments, the doctor may opine as to the claimant’s physical strength level, their range of motion, their postural or ambulatory limitations (sitting, standing, walking, bending, crouching, reaching, balancing), their ability to lift and carry weight on an occasional or frequent basis, their deficits with regard to their senses (seeing, hearing, feeling, grasping, manipulating), and any other physical short comings the claimant may have.
If the claimant’s disabling condition is mental, the treating psychiatrist or psychologist should indicate which cognitive deficits they have. For example, do they have trouble retaining information, learning information, concentrating, getting along with supervisors or co-workers, etc.? Does the patient have poor memory, decreased energy, illogical thinking, and so on? The mental RFC may also indicate the patient’s ability to persist in the areas of concentration and attention, as well as the patient’s ability to interact socially in work settings, assimilate new information, and successfully engage in SRRTs (simple, routine, repetitive tasks).
It is crucial to ensure that your RFC form is both timely and accurate. An outdated or incomplete form can lead to an inaccurate assessment of your limitations and may result in a denial of your claim. Make sure your doctor fills out the form in its entirety and provides detailed explanations for each limitation noted. This will give the claims examiner a clearer picture of your condition and its impact on your ability to work.
Can a Doctor Write a Letter for Disability?
A statement from your doctor can often make the difference between winning or losing your disability claim, but that does not mean any statement will be helpful. The statement should not be too brief to be of any use or too conclusory. I cannot tell you how many times our office has received a call from an excited client who says the doctor wrote them a statement that will win the case. It’s often an extremely brief note on a prescription pad that says little more than “My patient is completely disabled and unable to work.” Unfortunately, this type of statement is useless to the disability claims examiner.
RFC in Long Term Disability Claims
To learn what your limitations are, the insurance company may ask for you to take an Attending Physician’s Statement (APS) form to your doctor. If the insurance company claims handler does not believe the APS is sufficient, the adjuster may schedule an appointment for you to attend an “independent” medical examination by a doctor hired by the insurance company to obtain an independent RFC assessment.
If your claim is still within the “own occupation” period, the LTD disability claims examiner will first use your RFC to determine if you can be expected to do your own job. For example, if your prior occupation was sedentary and your RFC is for sedentary work (or higher), the claims examiner will likely find you should be able to return to your job unless your RFC identifies further non-exertional restrictions. Non-exertional impairments may include mental or emotional limitations, such as memory problems from a psychiatric or neurological disorder, or an inability to concentrate. If your claim is within the “any occupation” period, then the claims examiner will review your RFC to determine whether you could return to any occupation in the economy.
Learn more about “Residual Functional Capacity” in long term disability claims.
RFC in Social Security Disability Claims
The process is slightly different for Social Security Disability claims. When it comes to RFC, SSA disability examiners will assess your work capacity by taking into consideration your past work experience, your age, education level, and medical history. This RFC assessment will then be used to determine if you can return to your past relevant work. If they find you cannot return to past relevant work, they will then determine whether you can perform any other work in the economy.
Learn more about “Residual Functional Capacity” and Social Security Disability claims.
Residual Functional Capacity Forms: Tips for Successful Completion
- Obtain the form from a reputable source.
- Make sure the form is up-to-date and not outdated.
- Complete the form in its entirety and with detail; avoid vague answers.
- Have the form reviewed by a legal professional for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
- Follow all instructions and provide any requested additional documentation.
In conclusion, your RFC is a critical element in your disability claim, so make sure to obtain a detailed RFC form to support your claim. Whether you are seeking a long-term disability claim or a Social Security Disability claim, obtaining a RFC form that accurately depicts your medical condition(s) and limitations can greatly improve your chances of winning your case.
A competent and experienced disability lawyer will always try to obtain a completed RFC form. Every client that we represent receives at least one RFC form that has been customized to their specific medical condition(s). This is because an RFC form can often “turn the tide” in a case and effectively win disability benefits. Call (888) 321-8131 to schedule your free case evaluation today.
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