In this 10th Q & A post, I discuss how the SSA determines what your functional limitations are.
Question:
How exactly does the SSA determine the effects of a claimant’s symptoms on his or her ability to function in the workplace?
My answer:
As you know, symptoms arising from your condition can severely affect your daily functioning. But in the SSA’s eyes, merely stating that you have symptoms that interfere with your abilities is not enough to win approval. The SSA, in deciding your claim, has to go a step deeper to determine how your symptoms effect your functioning. In doing this, the SSA will consider the following:
- How the symptom affects the daily activities of the claimant; a claimant’s ability to function; his/her limitations as a result of the symptom
- Location, duration, frequency and intensity of the pain or other symptom
- Side effects of any medication being taken, as well as the type of medication and the dosage taken
- Treatments, outside of medication, for the relief of pain or other symptoms
- Avenues which a claimant uses or has used to relieve pain or other symptoms
A good lawyer should also be able to draw conclusions about what functional limitations arise from your symptoms. Without being able to translate your medical symptoms into work limitations, I can say that you will have a tough time winning your claim. Work limitations are the bread and butter of a winning case.
One last point about extracting functional limitations from your symptoms: It is important that physicians note in a claimant’s medical records how any symptom experienced by the claimant affects his/her ability to function on a day-by-day basis. This supportive documentation will only substantiate an individual’s disability claim and leave little to no room for misinterpretation about how your symptoms affect your functioning.
I applied for SSD in June of 2009. I received my denial letter in October of 2009 and immediately went to see an attorney. In the mean time I filled out the RFC forms and submitted them to my primary care doctor (who treats me for my lower back problem) and my psychologist (who treats me for depression), and indicated that the answers on the papers would be the same, if they were to ask me the questions themselves. The only thing they had to do was sign the papers. This they did do. When my attorney requested documentation from my file, the forms were included, and were sent to the Social Security Department. I was approved 3 months after having acquired an attorney. (8 months from the time I originally applied for disability.) I think the forms are what helped me to get approved and not have to wait to go to court. My attorney indicated it was something he did, while SS indicated it was something they did, to speed up my case. Nevertheless, I do not care who did what, I am just glad and grateful that I am getting my disability on a monthly basis.