What Is Exertional Impairment in a Social Security Disability Case?

When you apply for Social Security Disability (SSDI) benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) measures not only the severity of your disability or medical condition, but also whether you still are able to perform some type of work. This assessment is based in part on your educational background and your work history, as well as your functional capacity in terms of work. More specifically, the SSA will examine how your disability prevents you from performing certain physical activities, which is referred to as your exertional impairment.

In the Residual Capacity Form

The SSA requires you to complete a Residual Capacity Form (RFC) when you apply for SSDI benefits. RFC forms help the SSA determine your exertional impairment. On the RFC, your doctor will give the SSA information about your ability to carry on certain primary strength activities, such as walking, sitting, standing, lifting, pulling and carrying, in light of your disability or medical condition. Your doctor will be able to describe in detail what type of physical limitations your disability places on you, and the SSA will use your doctor's answers to measure your level of exertional impairment. When processing your disability claim, the SSA will use the RFC to take your exertional impairment into account. 

In the Application Process

The SSA uses your exertional impairment rating in order to determine whether there is any type of existing work in the national economy that you could perform despite your disability. Your exertional impairment will be one factor that the SSA will consider in deciding whether to approve or deny your claim for SSDI benefits. The SSA has developed exertional level guidelines that classify certain physical activities as sedentary, light, medium, heavy and very heavy exertion.

Part of the Disability Determination

In evaluating your application for SSDI benefits, the SSA will compare exertional levels with your past work history, as well as the exertional impairment that your disability causes. For instance, if you have little formal education and have worked solely in manual labor jobs in the past, and your disability has resulted in substantial exertional impairment, then the SSA is likely to find that you are unable to perform your previous type of work, which satisfies at least one prong of the SSD eligibility inquiry. On the other hand, if the SSA determines that your exertional impairment is not sufficient to prevent you from doing your previous type of work, then you are unlikely to be awarded SSDI benefits.

If you're applying for SSDI benefits, an attorney that specializes in disability cases can help. A lawyer can help you with the application process and any appeals, to help increase your chances of being awarded benefits.