RFC Findings For Disability

This chart will help you determine, based upon your age, how the Social Security Administration will classify your impairment.

As you can see from the sections highlighted in yellow below, persons aged 49 and below are expected to learn new skills.  According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), disabled workers qualify for DI benefits if they cannot perform the activities required of their job, cannot adjust to another type of work due to their condition, and their disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least a year or will result in death. Eligible individuals receive a monthly DI check from the federal government until they reach retirement age, die, or recover (which rarely happens). The benefit amount reflects their previous earnings.

Age  Education Level Reached Work Experience of Last 15 Years Residual Functional Capacity  Rule
60-64 6th grade or less Unskilled Medium 203.01
7th to 11th grade Unskilled Light 202.01
11th grade or less None Medium 203.02
11th grade or less Skilled or semiskilled—skills not transferable Light 202.02
High school graduate or more— does not provide for direct entry into skilled work Unskilled or none Light 202.04
High school graduate or more— does not provide for direct entry into skilled work Skilled or semiskilled—skills not transferable Light 202.06
55-59 11th grade or less None Medium 203.10
11th grade or less Unskilled Light 202.01
11th grade or less Skilled or semiskilled—skills not transferable Light 202.02
High school graduate or more— does not provide for direct entry into skilled work Unskilled or none Light 202.04
High school graduate or more—skills not transferable Skilled or semiskilled—does not provide for direct entry into skilled work Light 202.06
50-54 Illiterate or unable to communicate in English Unskilled or none Light 202.09
11th grade or less—at least literate and able to communicate in English Unskilled or none Sedentary 201.09
High school graduate or more—does not provide for direct entry into skilled work Unskilled or none Sedentary 201.12
High school graduate or more—does not provide for direct entry into skilled work Skilled or semiskilled—skills not transferable Sedentary 201.14
45-49 Illiterate or unable to communicate in English Unskilled or none Sedentary 201.17
  All educational levels—at least literate and able to communicate in English Unskilled, none, or skilled or semiskilled—skills not transferable Sedentary occupational base must be significantly compromised 201.00(h)
18-44 All educational levels including illiterate or unable to communicate in English Unskilled, none, or skilled or semiskilled—skills not transferable Sedentary occupational base must be significantly compromised 201.00(h)