| In order to be adjudicated as disabled before a Social | | | | Someone who is performing a job that involves |
| Security Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), an attorney | | | | medium work does a lot of walking and moving |
| or claimants representative must follow and complete | | | | around. The tasks can be difficult and involve a |
| what is called the five step Social Security disability | | | | significant amount of lifting. An example of medium |
| evaluation process. The evaluation process asks the | | | | lifting could include moving medium sized boxes in a |
| individual seeking disability benefits five separate | | | | retail store from one point to another. If a claimant can |
| questions: (1) Are you working and are you performing | | | | perform medium work, similar to performing heavy |
| substantial gainful activity; (2) Is your condition severe; | | | | work, it will be difficult for the individual to meet the |
| (3) Does your condition meet or exceed a listed | | | | fourth step of the evaluation process. |
| impairment; (4) Can you do previous work; and (5) | | | | The third category of RFC is light work and is defined |
| What work can you do. While each of the five steps | | | | by SSA as "lifting no more than 20 pounds with |
| must be proven to be adjudicated as disabled, proving | | | | frequent lifting or carrying of weights up to 10 pounds." |
| the fourth step is often the most difficult. The process | | | | Light work could involve standing and walking and |
| of proving whether a claimant can do previous work is | | | | usually involves a lot of hand and arm movement. |
| determined by an individual's Residual Functional | | | | Shuffling lightweight retail items would be an example |
| Capacity (RFC). This article explains what RFC is and | | | | of light work activity. |
| why it is important to every disability claim before an | | | | The final of the four RFC categories is sedentary |
| ALJ. | | | | work. Sedentary work is "lifting no more than 10 |
| The Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluates | | | | pounds no prolonged standing and walking." Sedentary |
| what someone's RFC is by determining the most work | | | | work typically involves mostly sitting and although it |
| that a claimant can do despite any of his or her | | | | could involve standing, it would only be occasionally. |
| limitations. SSA determines the most work that a | | | | Lifting in this category might include filing, lifting small |
| claimant can do by dividing "work" into four different | | | | objects like staplers or folders, or any other basic very |
| categories: heavy, medium, light, and sedentary work. It | | | | light objects. If an individual can only perform sedentary |
| is worth noting that there is sometimes a fifth category | | | | work, there is a good chance that claimant will meet |
| that is recognized for very heavy work; however, | | | | the fourth step of the Social Security disability |
| very heavy work is scarcely used and will not be | | | | evaluation process. For more information about RFC |
| discussed in this article. Whether a claimant wins his or | | | | and the category definitions, visit the SSA website at |
| her disability claim is greatly affected by which | | | | When a claimant is at a ALJ hearing, eventually the |
| category he or she is ultimately put into. The lower an | | | | case will move to the fourth step of the five step |
| individual's RFC level, the greater the chances of | | | | Social Security disability evaluation process. Once the |
| meeting the fourth requirement of the five step | | | | case reaches the fourth step, the case will turn on a |
| evaluation process. | | | | determination of what the claimant's RFC level is. RFC |
| The first category of RFC is heavy work. If a claimant | | | | is divided into four distinct categories that classify an |
| can successfully complete tasks at a job where the | | | | individual based on the kinds of work that he or she |
| work is classified as heavy, it will be extremely difficult | | | | can perform, despite any limitations they might have. |
| to be adjudicated as disabled. Heavy work is defined | | | | Indicators that the ALJ is at the fourth step are when |
| by SSA as lifting "no more than 100 pounds with | | | | you hear the Judge ask questions like "how much can |
| frequent lifting or carrying of weights up to 50 pounds." | | | | you carry?" or "how long can you stand?" The less |
| Heavy work involves lots of movement and includes | | | | movement and lifting an individual can perform on the |
| heavy lifting and very little sitting. | | | | job, the lower his or her RFC level. Every RFC |
| The second category of RFC is medium work. | | | | category is different and can play a major role in |
| Medium work is "lifting no more that 50 pounds with | | | | determining whether a claimant wins his or her disability |
| frequent lifting or carrying of weights up to 25 pounds." | | | | benefits claim. |