Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) Forms for Doctors

One major component of your Social Security disability claim involves determining your residual functional capacity (RFC), which is a set of restrictions about what you can and can't do in a work environment. Having your doctor fill out an RFC form can help you with your Social Security disability claim at both the initial application phase and through any appeals. The Social Security Administration (SSA) values the insight doctors can provide about job-related limitations you have. If your doctor says you have a lot of limitations, you're more likely to be found unable to work.

Not all RFC forms completed by doctors are helpful, however. Social Security doesn't have to take your doctor's opinion at face value, and some doctors think that just writing a note stating that you can't work is sufficient for the agency's standards. To ensure that your doctor's RFC statement is compelling evidence of disability, it's important that you know what a persuasive RFC looks like and how you can get your doctor to fill out the form the right way—so we've provided sample completed RFC forms for several common physical conditions, as well as a blank RFC you can download and give to your doctor to complete.

Benefits of Having Your Doctor Complete a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) Form

There are many reasons why you should ask your doctor to fill out an RFC form for your Social Security disability claim. For example:

• Social Security claims examiners and disability judges aren't doctors, and appreciate having experts clarify complex medical terms. With your doctor's RFC form in hand, you can present a professional interpretation of the medical evidence.
• Having a fully completed RFC form is much more convincing evidence than a doctor's note saying that you can't work. Social Security considers these statements to be "issues reserved to the Commissioner," meaning the agency will use additional legal considerations in disability determinations that aren't addressed in such broad opinions.
• Your doctor can provide commentary on what your specific limitations are—such as having reduced strength, mobility, or range of motion—that help rule out the types of jobs you can do.

In a nutshell, having a completed RFC form from your treating medical provider can go a long way towards proving that you meet a listed impairment or are unable to work at any job given your current restrictions. So if your regular doctor submits an RFC form that explains why your medical problems cause various physical and mental limitations, Social Security should give a good deal of "legal weight" to that opinion.

Obtaining an RFC Assessment Form for Your Doctor

The first question for most disability claimants seeking their doctor's opinion for a disability claim is "Where can I find a blank RFC form?" The type of form you'll need depends on whether you're being treated for a physical or mental condition. Bring the appropriate RFC form to your treating provider—don't have your physician complete the mental RFC form or your psychiatrist complete the physical RFC form.

Download the Physical RFC Form

Below, you can find a blank physical disability RFC form in PDF format for your doctor to complete. You can print it out and bring it with you to discuss with your physician.

We've also provided some examples of completed RFC forms so you can see how your doctor should best answer questions on disability forms for common physical impairments.

Sample RFC Forms: Degenerative Disc Disease, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and Heart Disease

These three example RFC forms are meant to highlight the kind of information that Social Security likes to see from doctors. The forms address some of the most common physical impairments that disability applicants have, such as back disorders, carpal tunnel syndrome, and heart diseases. Even if your condition isn't reflected in the RFCs below, review them carefully in order to better understand what a completed disability RFC form should look like.

While each individual disability claimant will have a different RFC, pay attention to the elements that all three of the examples above have in common. Note how each doctor refers to evidence in the medical records and gives specific answers to the questions asked. Your doctor's opinion should be similarly informative.

Getting Your Doctor to Fill Out the Residual Functional Capacity Form

Once you've downloaded the blank physical RFC form, the next step is to get your doctor to thoroughly complete the RFC form and return it to the Social Security Administration (SSA). This might be a harder task than it seems at first, so make sure to check in with your doctor or your doctor's office staff so you don't lose track of the form.

It's also crucial that you approach the right doctors at the right time. Having a completed RFC is only helpful for the SSA if it represents a doctor's thoughtful evaluation of your symptoms and limitations based on a comprehensive history of treatment. Don't just grab any doctor and ask them to complete an RFC on the fly—that's not the point of an RFC assessment and won't help your claim.

Which Doctors Should Complete an RFC Form?

Ideally, your primary treating physician or a specialist whom you've been seeing for a while—preferably at least several months—will complete your RFC form. Doctors with whom you've only had several appointments aren't usually the best providers to ask for an RFC since they may not yet know the full extent of your limitations.

There are some qualifiers, however. It's not always possible to get an RFC from a long-time doctor, especially if you've moved to a new area and had to switch providers or you hadn't established care until recently because you didn't have health insurance. Don't sweat it too much if you don't have an extensive treatment record with your doctor—but do try to make the time you spend at the doctor's office count by giving your doctor a detailed account of your medical history and current symptoms.

When Should I Have My Doctor Fill Out a Disability Form?

It's a good idea to have your doctor complete a residual functional capacity form early in the application process. Because disability claims can take several years to be approved, getting a helpful medical opinion into your file as soon as possible can increase the chances that you'll be awarded at the initial or reconsideration levels rather than waiting until after you've attended a disability hearing. It also makes sense to let your doctor know about your disability claim in advance of asking them to complete the RFC form so they'll be anticipating it.

How Do I Ask My Doctor to Fill Out an RFC Form?

Some medical clinics and hospitals have a "no forms" policy, so it might be difficult to get your doctor to complete an RFC form on your behalf. Typically, the best approach is to request a special appointment with your doctor for the sole purpose of completing the RFC form. That way, your doctor knows what to expect and will have had enough time to review your records and complete the form in its entirety.

Alternatively, you can bring an RFC form with you to one of your scheduled appointments and ask that your doctor complete it. Sometimes doctors will oblige and fill out the form in the clinic while you're with them. However, you run the risk of your doctor simply asking you to fill out the answers yourself and then signing their name when you've finished. Don't let your doctor do this. The SSA can tell when your doctor's signature doesn't match the handwriting in the RFC form, and will suspect that the form doesn't accurately represent the doctor's opinion.

Lastly, you have the option to mail or fax the form to your doctor. While this may be the easiest method for you, it isn't always the most effective, because the forms can easily get ignored or lost in the shuffle. If you do decide to send the RFC form to your doctor, it's crucial to follow up to make sure that the form was actually completed.

What If I Have Trouble Getting My Doctor to Complete an RFC Form?

Doctors may be reluctant to fill out an RFC form for a multitude of reasons. Nobody enjoys additional paperwork, and busy doctors might not have the time or energy to throw another form on a growing pile of insurance claims, medical billing, and referrals to specialists. If you're sensing pushback from your doctor, try to address their concerns. Helping your doctor understand why you're seeking their opinion can go a long way towards getting a useful medical statement.

How Long Will It Take for My Doctor to Fill Out the RFC Form?

Allow your doctor sufficient time to complete the form. The RFC form is rather long and requires an hour or so to complete thoroughly, so don't expect your doctor to complete it on the spot. Some doctors may charge a small fee for filling out the form—this is normal.

If your doctor hasn't indicated that they've completed the RFC form within a week or two, follow up politely to check that it hasn't been misplaced or forgotten. If you're on familiar terms with a nurse or someone else on the doctor's staff, give them a copy of the document as well, and let them know what you're trying to accomplish. This way, if the doctor gets sidetracked or loses the form, there is someone there to help get it done.

Make Sure the SSA Gets Your RFC Form

You can have your doctor submit the completed RFC directly to Social Security along with the rest of your medical evidence. Or, your doctor can return the RFC to you and you can submit the form yourself—but avoid altering the form in any way, by changing it or writing on it. The RFC needs to reflect your doctor's opinion, not yours.

Disability Determination Services and Residual Functional Capacity Forms

Your regular doctor isn't the only person who can provide Social Security with an RFC. All disability claimants usually receive an RFC assessment from Disability Determination Services (DDS), regardless of whether they have their own doctor's opinion in the record. DDS is a state agency that helps the federal Social Security Administration decide disability claims.

The DDS Process for Completing an RFC Form

Claims examiners at DDS review your medical records at the initial and reconsideration levels and—with assistance from medical consultants—complete an internal RFC form that the agency then uses to help determine whether you're disabled. The internal forms used by DDS aren't drastically different from those you might give to your doctors. Several dozen checkboxes are provided where the medical consultant can indicate any functional limitations you have in a wide range of physical activities.

The DDS examiner handling your claim will ask a medical consultant to review your medical records and fill out the RFC form based on the information they see in the file. This RFC form contains the medical consultant's opinion about your ability to engage in activities of daily living, such as how long you can stand for, how much weight you can carry, and how often you can use your arms and hands.

Will an RFC From DDS Help Me Get Disability?

Unfortunately, RFC forms completed by DDS doctors are rarely of any benefit to claimants. At DDS, RFC forms are usually used to facilitate denials significantly more often than approvals. That's why it's important to get your treating doctor to fill out an RFC form for you.

How Disability Lawyers Can Help Get Your Doctor's RFC

You're not required to get an attorney at any stage of the disability determination process, but it can save you a lot of time, money, and headaches. An experienced disability lawyer can help you get your doctor's cooperation in completing your RFC form, make sure that the form will strengthen your disability claim, and—if you haven't had consistent medical treatment—suggest ways that you can find a doctor with whom you can establish a treating relationship.

If you have multiple doctors, your attorney can also help determine which of your doctors is in the best position to provide an opinion about your physical or mental limitations. Your lawyer can also take a lot of the stress out of making sure that your RFC forms are completed and submitted to the SSA on time. For more information about hiring a disability advocate or lawyer, please see our article about how to find a disability lawyer, attorney, or representative.