What are Functional Limitations?
Functional limitations are restrictions in your ability to perform work-related activities due to a physical, mental, or environmental impairment. They are critical in Social Security Disability (SSD) claims.
Evidence of these limitations, such as difficulties with mobility, concentration, or exposure to hazards, can significantly impact your eligibility for benefits.
How the SSA Uses Evidence of Functional Limitations
The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses functional limitations to determine if your medical condition prevents you from working. They assess whether you can perform your past relevant work or any other substantial gainful activity.
The SSA considers your limitations by evaluating your residual functional capacity (RFC), which represents what you can still do despite your impairments. Providing evidence of limitations reduces your RFC, increasing your chances of benefit approval. This is a critical component of the application process.
Types of Functional Limitations Considered by the SSA
The SSA considers three primary types of limitations:
Physical Limitations: These relate to your ability to perform physical tasks at work, such as climbing, balancing, reaching, handling, or seeing.
Mental Limitations: This considers restrictions in your ability to understand, remember, and carry out instructions; make work-related decisions; and interact with supervisors and coworkers.
Environmental Limitations: These involve working conditions that could pose a risk, like exposure to dangerous machinery, chemicals, extreme temperatures, or excessive noise.
Providing comprehensive evidence of all applicable limitations is crucial for a strong claim.
“Functional limitations are key to a successful disability claim. Providing detailed evidence of these limitations is crucial for your case.
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Impact on Disability Benefits
Your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) is a critical factor. The SSA assesses your RFC by considering the physical, mental, and environmental demands of your past work and then subtracting the limitations resulting from your medical condition.
The more limitations you can demonstrate, the lower your RFC will be. A lower RFC increases your chances of being approved for disability benefits. Effective evidence presentation is key.
Getting the Benefits You Deserve
At Disability Support Services, we focus on Social Security cases. We have developed the knowledge and experience to help our clients maximize their chances of getting disability benefits.
Contact us today to discuss how we can help you gather and present evidence of your functional limitations, strengthening your claim and increasing your chances of receiving the benefits you deserve.