Applying for Social Security disability benefits can be a daunting task, especially for those who are dealing with mental health conditions. During the application process, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will follow a five-step procedure to determine whether an applicant is currently working, whether they have a disabling condition that prevents them from working full-time, and whether they have the capacity to work in jobs they have held in the past or other jobs that are available. During this process, the person's residual functional capacity (RFC) will be determined, which will provide an idea of what types of activities they can perform. For those who have mental health conditions that have led them to apply for disability benefits, understanding how mental RFC is measured can be crucial.
What Is Mental RFC?
Mental RFC is the SSA’s way of determining the extent to which a mental impairment affects a person's ability to work. RFC describes the extent of work a person can perform under the limitations placed on them by a health condition. In cases involving mental health conditions, the SSA will look at several factors to get an idea of whether a person can perform work-related activities on a regular and sustained basis.
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