One of the most important elements of a claim for Social Security disability benefits is the claimant’s residual functional capacity, or RFC.

Along with age, education and work experience, the RFC  determines if a claimant can work at any substantial gainful activity in the national economy.  

Under Social Security Administration rules, the RFC can be considered at either of five levels — sedentary, light, medium, heavy or very heavy levels. 

Sedentary work is defined in the rules as lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time with occasional lifting or carrying of light items like files or small tools. Sedentary work involves sitting and walking and standing may be required occasionally. Sedentary jobs can require the use of hands and fingers for repetitive actions. 

Light work is lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. A job in the light category can require significant walking and standing, and sitting while operating arm and hand or leg and foot controls.

Medium work is lifting no more than 50 pounds at a time, with frequent lifting or carrying of items weighing up to 25 pounds. Medium work can require standing or walking, with some sitting. Use of the arms and hands is usually necessary with frequent bending and stooping.

Heavy work is lifting of no more than 100 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects up to 50 pounds. Very heavy work is lifting objects weighing more than 100 pounds at a time and frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing 50 pounds or more.

The SSA also looks at skills of claimants based on past work, education and training to determine RFC. Unskilled work requires little or no judgment to do simple tasks which can be learned quickly.  Semi-skilled work requires some skills but not complex work duties. Semi-skilled jobs can require attention to detail, and coordination for repetitive tasks.

Skilled work, as defined by the SSA rules, requires workers to use judgment while performing tasks to meet quality requirements, read specifications or blueprints, make computations or calculations, or deal with people, facts and figures, or abstract ideas at a high level of complexity.

Social Security Disability Claimants must consider these factors in addition to their medical conditions when applying for benefits. Claimants are encouraged to seek the advice of an attorney who can assist them with the disability evaluation process.

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Kellie S. Rogers, a lawyer in the Salem office of Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell, provides counsel and advice on issues related to Social Security, Workers’ Compensation, estate planning, probate administration and family law.