Residual Functional Capacity Form

The Residual Functional Capacity form (RFC) is generally completed by a consultative examiner (CE) for a disability applicant. A disability applicant is only sent to a CE if they meet the nonmedical requirements for SSI or SSDI benefits but the SSA does not have sufficient medical information to determine if they are disabled. This can happen for a variety of reasons; for instance, the treating sources do not send medical records, the claimant has not been to a doctor in several years or the claimant has never been to a doctor.

The residual capacity form can be used to document both physical and mental limitations of the claimant. On a physical functional capacity form the doctor will address the claimant's exertional limitations (lift, carry, walk, stand, sit, push or pull), postural limitations (climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl), manipulative limitations (reach overhead, gross manipulation, fine manipulation, feeling), visual limitations (near and far acuity, depth perception, accommodation, color vision and field of vision), communication limitations to hear and speak, and environmental limitations (limitation to work in heat or cold, wetness, humidity, noise, vibration, fumes, odors, dust and poor ventilation).