How Social Security Decides If You Can Work or Are Disabled

What Is Your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC)?

Your RFC is an assessment of what you are capable of doing and what you are too limited to do.

How to Get Disability Benefits Based on a Medical-Vocational Allowance

If your disability doesn't meet a listing, Social Security may award you benefits based on your inability to work. This is called a "Medical-Vocational Allowance".

Social Security Disability and the Doctor's Residual Functional Capacity Form (RFC)

Your doctor's RFC form may be the most important part of your disability case.

How to Qualify for Disability (What Happens at DDS)

Before making a decision, the DDS claims examiner orders medical records from your doctors and other medical providers and may call you for more information about your work or medical history.

Functional Limitations in Your Medical Record Help Get Social Security Disability

Your functional limitations are the most important evidence for Social Security disability.

How Social Security Decides if You Can Do Past or Other Work

If you can show that you can no longer do the work you did in the past and you cannot perform other work, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will deem you disabled. To assess your medical condition as it relates to your ability to do past work or other work, the SSA will develop a Residual Functional

Your Work History: Why It's Important for Social Security Disability

Your work history determines the requirements of your old job (and whether you can do it) and whether you have transferable skills to work at a new job.

If You Can't Sustain and Regularly Attend Full-Time Work, You Should Qualify for Disability

If you don't have a medical condition that qualifies you for immediate approval of disability benefits (called a “listing”), you'll need to prove that you can't work.

Top Five Mistakes Made on Your Social Security Disability Decision

After you apply for Social Security or SSI disability benefits, Social Security sends your application to your state’s Disability Determination Services (DDS) agency. A claims examiner who works for DDS will request your medical records and then make a decision on your case. Claims examiners are overworked

How the Medical-Vocational Grid Rules Are Used to Determine Disability

Winning a claim for disability becomes easier the older a person gets. This is because the Social Security Administration (SSA) considers the fact that a successful transition to a new workplace or field for an older worker may be more difficult than for a younger worker (the SSA calls this a "vocational adjustment").

Applying for Disability When You're Under Age 50

If you are under the age of 50 when you apply for disability, it will be much harder for you to win your claim than for an older person. However, there are some tactics you can use to increase your chances of being approved.

Applying for Disability at Age 50-54 With Social Security's Medical-Vocational Grids

When you apply for disability, if the Social Security Administration (SSA) decides your condition doesn't meet a disability listing and you can't do your past job, the SSA will refer to the “grid rules” for those between the ages of 50 and 54 to decide if you are disabled.

Correct the Details of Your Past Work to Win Your Disability Hearing

At your Social Security hearing, be prepared to testify as to the exact requirements and duties of your prior work.

Proving You Can't Do Your Past Work at a Disability Hearing

You'll have to prove to Social Security that you don't have the RFC to be able to perform your past job as you performed it or as it's generally performed.

Questioning the VE's Testimony About Other Work at a Disability Hearing

To win disability, challenge Social Security on the proposed jobs available to you.